# Sudan

/suˈdæn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sudan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the country

noun · CEFR B1

a country in Northeast Africa, located south of Egypt.

For teachers: a sovereign state in Northeast Africa, bordered by Egypt to the north and the Red Sea to the northeast.

- Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan.
- Diplomatic relations between Sudan and its neighbours have been shaped by complex historical ties and shared water resources from the Nile.

### 2. the geographic region

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a wide area of grasslands in Africa that sits between the desert and the tropical forests.

For teachers: a broad geographic belt of tropical savanna running east to west across Africa, situated south of the semi-arid Sahel.

- The Sudan region is known for its tall grasses and scattered trees.
- Ecologists study the Sudan as a distinct transition zone where the arid climate of the north meets the humid forests of central Africa.

### 3. former French colony

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

the name for the country of Mali when it was ruled by France in the past.

For teachers: a former territory in French West Africa, known as French Sudan, which became the independent nation of Mali in 1960.

- In old history books, you might see Mali called the French Sudan.
- The administrative boundaries of the former French Sudan were redrawn several times before the territory finally achieved its sovereignty.

## Examples

- Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan.
- The Blue Nile and White Nile meet in Sudan before flowing north toward the Mediterranean Sea.
- Archaeological sites in Sudan contain more ancient pyramids than those found in Egypt, reflecting the historical power of the Kingdom of Kush during the first millennium BCE.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.