Clarifying doubts

MAGALY

@magaly1672799018 · 16 Mar 2021

Clarifying doubts

#southafrica South Africa, not South Africa. South Africa is the name of the country that occupies much of the southern tip of the continent, while South Africa is the name of a wider geographical area, including South Africa and other countries in the region.

In different media you can find phrases such as “A delegation led by the former South African president held meetings with both sides” or “The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) started the study for the establishment of a virtual reserve fund”.

The name that includes the list of countries, capitals and nations of the Spelling of the Spanish Language is South Africa (officially Republic of South Africa). The South African variant is not incorrect, although, as the Panhispanic Dictionary of Doubts points out, it is a minority and therefore less recommended.

Thus, in the initial examples it would have been appropriate to write “A delegation headed by the former President of South Africa held meetings with both sides” or “The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) initiated the study for the establishment of a virtual reserve fund”.

The Gentilicians are South African and South African, although, as in the case of place names, the first is preferred.

https://www.fundeu.es/recomendacion/sudafrica/