# Sierra Leone

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /siˌɛɹə liˈoʊn/

## Definitions
1. A country in West Africa. Official name: Republic of Sierra Leone.

## Etymology
From Italian sierra (“mountain range”) + leone (“lion”) (via Venetian), itself from Portuguese Serra Leoa (“lioness mountains”), as the area was described to the rest of Europe by Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto; in reference to the Lion Mountains (named by Pedro de Sintra in 1462).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sierra-leone