NATION
How to pronounce
Cape Verde
kaypVURD
Native [ˌkabu ˈveɾdɨ] → American /ˌkeɪp ˈvɜːrd/
Sound by sound
2 little beats. BIG = the stressed part.
- kayp the ‘ay’ in day
- VURD the ‘ur’ in fur — say this beat loudest
Talking about Cape Verde
The words that trip people up — what to call the team, the people, and the language.
- One person
- a Cape Verdean
- The people / the team
- Cape Verdeans (the team: the Blue Sharks)
- As an adjective
- Cape Verdean
- The language
- Portuguese
The nationality word is Cape Verdean (kayp VUR-dee-uhn). The official language is Portuguese, but most people speak Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) day to day.
Like a local vs like an American
Don’t say…
- kayp VAIR-day (over-Spanish)
- KAYP verd
- kap VURD
- kayp VURD — stress on VURD
Where the name comes from
Cape Verde is a translation of the Portuguese Cabo Verde, “green cape”. The islands were named for the Cap-Vert peninsula on the nearby Senegalese mainland — the westernmost point of Africa — which Portuguese sailors called the “green cape”. The name carried out to the archipelago itself. Since 2013 the country has asked that the untranslated form Cabo Verde be used officially.
- Capital
- Praia
- Confederation
- CAF
- World Cup
- First-ever appearance (2026 debut)
Hear it for real
Say it out loud — and check it.
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Practice in the appFAQ
How do you pronounce Cape Verde?
Cape Verde is pronounced kayp VURD in American English — 2 beats, with the stress on VURD.
Where does the name Verde come from?
Cape Verde is a translation of the Portuguese <em>Cabo Verde</em>, “green cape”. The islands were named for the Cap-Vert peninsula on the nearby Senegalese mainland — the westernmost point of Africa — which Portuguese sailors called the “green cape”. The name carried out to the archipelago itself. Since 2013 the country has asked that the untranslated form <em>Cabo Verde</em> be used officially.
Is it Cape Verde or Cabo Verde?
Both refer to the same Atlantic island nation. “Cape Verde” is the English translation; <em>Cabo Verde</em> is the Portuguese original, which the government has asked the world to use as the official name. Either way it means “green cape”.