Many people search for “Costa Verde” when they mean Cabo Verde. That is easy to do. The two names look alike. But Costa Verde is not a country. Cabo Verde is.
Cabo Verde: the country
Cabo Verde is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean. In English it is also called Cape Verde. The islands lie about 570 km off the coast of Senegal in West Africa.
- 10 islands, 9 of them inhabited
- Capital: Praia, on the island of Santiago
- About half a million inhabitants
- Official language: Portuguese. Most people speak Kriolu.
- Currency: the escudo (CVE)
Popular holiday islands are Sal and Boa Vista. Read more on our page about the location and the islands.
What does Costa Verde mean?
Costa Verde means “green coast” in Portuguese and Spanish. Cabo Verde means “green cape”. Only one word is different. That is why the names get mixed up.
There are several places called Costa Verde. None of them is a country:
- Spain: the coast of Asturias in the north
- Portugal: the north coast, around Porto and the Minho
- Brazil: the coast between Rio de Janeiro and Paraty
- Italy: a stretch of coast on Sardinia
So if you are looking for a country in Africa, you mean Cabo Verde.
Where does the name Cabo Verde come from?
The islands are named after a cape on the African mainland. That is Cap-Vert, the peninsula where Dakar lies. It is the most westerly point of mainland Africa. Portuguese sailors saw it in the 15th century. Its green colour stood out against the desert.
The islands themselves are not that green. Sal, Boa Vista and Maio are flat and dry. Santo Antão, Santiago, Fogo and Brava do have green valleys, especially after the rainy season.
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde?
Both are correct. Since 2013 the country asks to be called Cabo Verde in every language. Many English speakers still say Cape Verde. On our page about the name in other languages you can see what the country is called around the world.
Costa Verde and Cabo Verde side by side
| Costa Verde | Cabo Verde | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Name of several coastlines | A country |
| Meaning | Green coast | Green cape |
| Where? | Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Italy | Atlantic Ocean, off West Africa |
| Islands? | No | Yes, 10 |
| Capital | None | Praia |
Frequently asked questions
Is Costa Verde a country in Africa?
No. The country in Africa is called Cabo Verde, or Cape Verde in English. Costa Verde is the name of coastlines in Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Italy.
Is Cape Verde the same as Cabo Verde?
Yes. Cabo Verde is the Portuguese and official name. Cape Verde is the English name.
Where is Cabo Verde?
In the Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km west of Senegal. From the UK the flight takes about 6 hours.