Pronunciation: [ɡˈɪni] (IPA) 
The word "guinea" is often misspelled due to its unusual pronunciation. The correct spelling of this word is /ˈɡɪni/. It is important to note that the "u" after "g" is pronounced as "i" and not as "u" as in other words like "guide" or "guild". Moreover, the "ea" at the end of the word is also pronounced as "i". This word can refer to either a country in West Africa or a coin that was historically used in the UK.
Guinea is a term that has multiple meanings and can refer to different things depending on the context.
1. Guinea is a geographic term that historically referred to an area on the west coast of Africa. This region was known for its rich natural resources, particularly gold, and was colonized by European powers in the past. The modern countries of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea lie within this region.
2. Guinea can also refer to an old British coin that was originally made from gold imported from Guinea (West Africa). The coin was first minted in 1663 and circulated until 1813. It later became a unit of currency, equal to 21 shillings.
3. In some contexts, Guinea can be used as an ethnic term, referring to the Guinea people. This term is mainly used in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
4. Guinea pig is another common usage of the term. It refers to a small domestic rodent, also known as cavy, which is often kept as a pet or used in scientific research.
Overall, the term "guinea" is versatile and can pertain to geographical regions, historical coins or currency, ethnic groups, or a small domestic rodent known as a guinea pig.
• A gold coin of the value of 21s., not now used.
• Of or belonging to Guinea, as guinea-hen.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "guinea" has multiple etymological roots.1. Guinea as a region: The term "Guinea" originally referred to the Guinea region in West Africa, which was named after the medieval Kingdom of Ghana (not related to the modern-day country of Ghana). This region was known for its abundance of gold, and the name Guinea became associated with the metal.2. Guinea as a gold coin: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the word "guinea" was used to refer to a gold coin that was minted in England. The coin was originally made from gold imported from the Guinea region of Africa, thus deriving its name.3. Guinea as a unit of money: The Guinea coin later became a unit of currency, equivalent to 21 shillings, in Great Britain until it was replaced by the pound in 1816. It continued to be used as a denomination for special purchases.
