Save Type Political Subdivision & Settlement Usage Western African, Hausa, Igbo, English Pronounced Pron. /ˈleɪ.ɡɒs/(English) /ˈlɑː.ɡoʊs/(English) [key·simplify] Meaning & History From Portuguese lagos meaning "lakes". This is the name of a city in Nigeria as well as a state of the same name.