Gabon

American  

[ga-bon, ga-bawn] / gæˈbɒn, gaˈbɔ̃ /

Also Gabun

noun

1. Official Name Gabonese Republic.  a republic in western equatorial Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by People's Republic of the Congo. 102,290 sq. mi. (264,931 sq. km). Libreville.

2. an estuary in western Gabon. About 40 miles (65 km) long.

---

Gabon British  

/ ɡabɔ̃, ɡəˈbɒn /

noun

1. Former English spelling: Gaboon.  a republic in W central Africa, on the Atlantic: settled by the French in 1839; made part of the French Congo in 1888; became independent in 1960; almost wholly forested. Official language: French. Religion: Christian majority; significant animist minority. Currency: franc. Capital: Libreville. Pop: 1 640 286 (2013 est). Area: 267 675 sq km (103 350 sq miles)

---

Example Sentences

Pope Leo was on the 10th day of his African tour, following a hectic schedule that began on Wednesday with a mass in Mongomo, near the border with Gabon.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Gabon is led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, who won presidential elections last year after leading a military coup in 2023.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

The veteran Gabon striker, who had a disappointing AFCON, scored for Marseille but they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 away to Paris FC.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

A shadow tanker often uses a “flag of convenience” provided by smaller, non-Western nations such as Gabon, Comoros or Cameroon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

That is where the last of the great African rain forests still stand—Cameroon and Gabon, Zaire and the Congo.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall