Congolese

American  

[kong-guh-leez, -lees] / ˌkɒŋ gəˈliz, -ˈlis /

adjective

1. of or relating to the People's Republic of the Congo or the Congo region, its inhabitants, or their languages.

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noun

plural

Congolese

1. an inhabitant or native of the People's Republic of the Congo or of the Congo region.

Congolese British  

/ ˌkɒŋɡəˈliːz /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Republic of the Congo or the Democratic Republic of the Congo or their inhabitants

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the Republic of the Congo or the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Other Word Forms

• anti-Congolese
  adjective
• pro-Congolese
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Congolese

First recorded in 1895–1900; from French congolais, irregular formation; see -ese

Example Sentences

The corridor's backbone is the historic Benguela railway, which runs west to east from Lobito to the Congolese border.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

On the Congolese route, he said LAR can now run up to one "copper train" a day to Lobito and one "sulphur train" a day back toward the mines.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

The statement does not say if there were any casualties among the Ugandan or Congolese military.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

"Logistical and technical support" will be provided by the US, the statement on Sunday said, adding that the Congolese government would bear no financial cost for the scheme.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Even in the grocery store, surrounded in one aisle by more kinds of food than will ever be known in a Congolese lifetime, there was nothing on the air but a vague, disinfected emptiness.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver