Crossword Clue: West African country, source of the Niger River
Here's the answer to the West African country, source of the Niger River crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: GUINEA
GUINEA solves the clue "West African country, source of the Niger River". Spanning 6 letters (4 vowels, 2 consonants), it begins at G and ends at A. Like most crossword fill, it lives at the intersection of two words, so a single confirmed crossing letter frequently reveals the whole entry.
Origin & meaning
Guinea lies on the Atlantic coast of West Africa and is the source of the Niger River. It holds a large share of the world's bauxite, the ore of aluminum.
Common usage
Guinea turns up often in crosswords because of that letter mix. Words like GUINEA interlock cleanly with longer entries, so constructors reach for them to make a grid fit together without awkward clashes. Given a 6-square slot and a crossing letter or two, it's usually quick to confirm.
Crossword trivia
At 6 letters, GUINEA shows up in daily mini and themed puzzles far more than longer, obscure words. It's the kind of entry worth memorizing — the more common short words you know cold, the faster you solve.
Stuck on this clue?
If this clue won't come, leave it and fill the answers that cross it. Once a couple of GUINEA's letters are locked by neighboring words, the entry tends to reveal itself. Crossings beat staring at a clue every time.
This clue in different puzzles
Setters vary how they clue GUINEA — sometimes with a straight dictionary definition, sometimes with wordplay, a pun, or a fill-in-the-blank — but the answer itself stays the same. Learning to spot the answer behind the disguise is a core crossword skill.
Example sentences
- "Seeing 'West African country, source of the Niger River' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in GUINEA almost immediately."
- "Once the G was confirmed by the crossing word, GUINEA was the only entry that fit."
- "A 6-letter slot and a clue like 'West African country, source of the Niger River'? That's GUINEA nine times out of ten."