Which country’s name means “hippopotamus”?

Nearly every country on earth is named after one of four things; a directional description of the country (South Korea), a feature of the land (like a mountain), a tribal name, or an important person, (most likely a man).

The West African country of Mali took its name from the word “hippopotamus” in the local Bambara language, and the hippo plays an outsize role in the country’s history and folklore.

The hippopotamus is said to represent strength, and the animal even appeared on the country’s independent currency, the Malian franc, before Mali adopted the West African CFA Franc in 1984. There is even a Malian legend about how the founder of the Malian empire, Sundiata Keita, changed himself into a hippopotamus upon his death and continued dwelling in the Sankarani River, a tributary of the Niger River.

The capital city of Bamako is also named after an animal; Bamako means “crocodile river” in the Bambara language. The city lies on the banks of the Niger River, the largest river in West Africa, where you’ll find plenty of hippopotamuses and crocodiles as it winds through the country.