French word

nord-africain

Pronunciation

IPA/nɔʁafʁikɛ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectiveNorth African

Example

J'ai un ami nord-africain.

I have a North African friend.

Illustration for nord-africain (North African)

More examples

Elle aime la cuisine nord-africaine.

She likes North African cuisine.

Core concept

A map of North Africa extending to its people and cultural life.

Common phrases

  • la cuisine nord-africaine

    North African cuisine

  • un ami nord-africain

    a North African friend

  • la musique nord-africaine

    North African music

Similar words

maghrébin: Relating to the Maghreb, including Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
africain: Relating to the African continent as a whole.
arabe: Relating to Arabic, Arab culture, or Arab people.
méditerranéen: Relating to Mediterranean coastal countries or cultures.

Definition in French

Qui se rapporte à la région, à la culture ou aux personnes originaires du nord de l'Afrique.

Word origin

The compound nord-africain joins the directional element nord to africain, a word inherited from Latin Africanus.

Usage tips

  • The hyphen is standard in nord-africain, and the adjective normally stays lowercase unless it begins a sentence.

Opposites

  • subsahariensub-Saharanadjective

Word lists with this word