Kinshasa

American  

[kin-shah-suh, kin-shah-suh] / kɪnˈʃɑ sə, ˈkɪn ʃɑ sə /

noun

1. a port in and capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the northwestern part, on the Congo (Zaire) River.

---

Kinshasa British  

/ -ˈʃɑːsə, kɪnˈʃɑːzə /

noun

1. Former name (until 1966): Léopoldville.  the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), on the River Congo opposite Brazzaville: became capital of the Belgian Congo in 1929 and of Zaïre in 1960; university (1954). Pop: 5 717 000 (2005 est)

---

Example Sentences

So were its transport systems: If this were happening two years ago, the agency likely would have managed the conveyance of Ebola samples from suspected outbreaks to Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, where they could be tested.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026

DR Congo are currently based in Belgium after they cancelled a planned pre-tournament training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Speaking by telephone from his hotel room in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, he says he has no idea what the future holds.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Kinshasa, an overcrowded city of more than 17 million people, churns out at least 10 tonnes of plastic waste every day, according to environmental experts.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Many people say it’s made more progress than Kinshasa, and I can see why.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer