Senegal

American  

[sen-i-gawl, -gahl] / ˌsɛn ɪˈgɔl, -ˈgɑl /

noun

1. a republic in western Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by Mali. 76,084 square miles (197,057 square kilometers). Dakar.

2. a river in western Africa, flowing northwest from eastern Mali to the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Louis in Senegal. About 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) long.

---

Senegal British  

/ ˌsɛnɪˈɡɔːl /

noun

1. a republic in West Africa, on the Atlantic: made part of French West Africa in 1895; became fully independent in 1960; joined with The Gambia to form the Confederation of Senegambia (1982–89); mostly low-lying, with semidesert in the north and tropical forest in the southwest Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Dakar. Pop: 13 300 410 (2013 est). Area: 197 160 sq km (76 124 sq miles)

---

Senegal Cultural  

1. Republic in western Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. Dakar is the capital and largest city.

---

Discover More

Senegal was a French colony from 1895 to 1958. It became fully independent in 1960.

Etymology

Origin of Senegal

First recorded in 1750–60; from French Sénégal, named after the Senegal River

Example Sentences

Drivers are refusing to travel between the western Kayes region near Senegal and Bamako without security escorts, with passengers and goods stuck at the border, officials and passengers told AFP on Wednesday.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The ship had attempted to dock in Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of Senegal, but officials there did not allow it.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

The Dutch-flagged ship remained off the coast of Cape Verde, an island nation about 400 miles west of Senegal, where it was scheduled to have docked on Monday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

When the players eventually returned Brahim Diaz chipped his Panenka penalty into the hands of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Senegal went on to win 1-0.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Gabourey’s father is from Senegal, and she said she loves it when black women wear their hair in traditional African styles.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana