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Archivesmeaning of Zaire
to day at church a young lady told me that her baby girl was named Zair. I aske the meaning. She said it was a country in Africa. She did not know the meaning of the name. I looked it up and the closest I could figue out was ZAHIR (arabic), meaning shining, radiant, blossoming. Female NAME is spelled ZAHIRA.
Since 1997 the name has been changed to the Demotatic Republic Of The Congo
Help, I would like the mother to know the meaning of her daughter's name. The baby is 7 months, we don't have much time, before she starts to ask the meaning of her name. (smile)
Since 1997 the name has been changed to the Demotatic Republic Of The Congo
Help, I would like the mother to know the meaning of her daughter's name. The baby is 7 months, we don't have much time, before she starts to ask the meaning of her name. (smile)
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Replies
The meaning of Zaire is the native name of the Congo river according to C.M.Doke in an article on the earliest records of Bantu written by Philippo Pigafetta an Italian mathematician. In his work on 'The Kingdom Of Congo' in Italian in 1591, he gives the Congo river its native name of Zaire. He explains the name as 'I Know'. 'I know' in Congo = NZEYE, from the verb ZAYA.
Hope this helps.
Ferg.
Hope this helps.
Ferg.
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The old name of Dem. rep. Congo, Zaire, is thought to be a Portuguese mispronounciation of Nzadi, "the river", which was the original Bantu name of the Congo river (earlier Zaire river).
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