Dominica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It should not be confused with the Dominican Republic, another Caribbean nation.
The name is pronounced IPA: /ˌdɒ.mɪnˈiː.kə/ dom'-i-nee'-kə (key). In Latin the name means "Sunday", which was the day of its discovery by Columbus.
The official name is Commonwealth of Dominica. Dominica's pre-Columbian name was Wai'tu kubuli, which means "her body is tall". The indigenous Kalinago people of the island, somewhat erroneously called 'Caribs', have a territory which resembles the Indian reserves of Canada. Because the island went through a period of French occupation, and lies between two overseas départements of France (Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south), the island is sometimes called "French Dominica". The island also has the nickname "The Nature Isle of the Caribbean" due to its seemingly unspoiled natural beauty.
Countries
