アフリカ

• Reading: あふりか
• Romaji: afurika
• Pronunciation: /a.ɸɯ.ɾi.ka/

Meaning

Africa. The continent located south of Europe and southwest of Asia.

A katakana rendering of the continent name 'Africa.' Used in geography, world news, and travel contexts. Japan has growing ties with African nations through international cooperation and development aid. Common collocations include アフリカ大陸 (the African continent) and 南アフリカ (South Africa).

Examples

1. いつかアフリカに旅行したいです。 I want to travel to Africa someday.
2. アフリカには面白い動物がたくさんいます。 There are many fascinating animals in Africa.
3. 姉はアフリカでボランティア活動をしています。 My older sister is doing volunteer work in Africa.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, travel, world

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from the Portuguese/Dutch pronunciation of 'Africa,' which entered Japanese during the period of early European contact in the 16th-17th centuries. The rare kanji rendering 阿弗利加 is an ateji (phonetic kanji) no longer used.

Cultural Context

Era: Early Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal