Save Type Country Usage English Pronounced Pron. /doʊ.ˌmɪn.ɪ.kən ɹə.ˈpʌb.lɪk/, /də.ˌmɪ.nɪ.kən ɹə.ˈpʌb.lɪk/, /dɒm.ˌɪn.ɪ.kən ɹɪ.ˈpʌb.lɪk/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History Calque of Spanish República Dominicana named in honour of Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo de Guzmán), the founder of the Dominican Order. This is the name of a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.