Easy
How to Pronounce DR Congo
dee-ar KON-goh
/ˌdiː ˈɑːr ˈkɒŋɡoʊ/
Syllable Breakdown
deearKONgoh
dee-ar KON-goh. Also called DRC or Congo-Kinshasa to distinguish from the Republic of Congo. In French: KONG-goh.
How Locals Say It
République démocratique du Congo
Congo = KONG-goh (French)
Common Mistakes
DRAY-kohthe CONGO (ambiguous)
Fun Fact About the Name
DR Congo (formerly Zaire) was the first sub-Saharan African team to reach a World Cup finals in 1974, losing heavily to Yugoslavia, Scotland, and Brazil — but they were there. Kinshasa is one of Africa's biggest cities.
DR Congo at World Cup 2026
DR Congo competes in the CAF confederation.
View DR Congo squad analysis →