Zambezi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A major river in Africa that flows through several countries including Zambia and Zimbabwe
2. An important waterway in southern Africa that empties into the Indian Ocean, known for its diverse ecosystems
3. A significant river known for its stunning landscapes and the famous Victoria Falls along its course

Etymology: The river's name is a foreign label applied to a local one. Portuguese traders and explorers on the Mozambican coast wrote it as "Zambeze," and the form became standard in European maps. The name is most often linked to a local term meaning something like "great river," though the exact source language and wording are uncertain, and it is not clear which Bantu-language root the Portuguese heard. Many people know the river mainly through its famous waterfall, Victoria Falls, which the Zambezi plunges over on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Local speakers have their own name for the falls, "Mosi-oa-Tunya," meaning "the smoke that thunders," which describes the mist that rises above the gorge. That name is older than the European one and reflects how the river was experienced locally.

Synonyms: zambezi river