Spanish word

ciudad

Pronunciation

IPA/θjuˈðað/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncity

Example

Me gusta vivir en la ciudad.

I like to live in the city.

Illustration for ciudad (city)

More examples

Voy a la ciudad este fin de semana.

I'm going to the city this weekend.

Core concept

A large populated urban area with homes, shops, streets, and public services.

Common phrases

  • vivir en la ciudad

    living in the city

  • ir a la ciudad

    going to the city

  • el centro de la ciudad

    city center

Similar words

pueblo: Small rural town or village with few residents and limited shops and services.
barrio: Residential district within a city or town where neighbors live and local life takes place.
centro: City center with a concentration of shops, businesses, and administrative buildings.
capital: Primary city serving as the political and administrative center of a country or region.

Definition in Spanish

Lugar poblado y grande donde se concentran viviendas, comercios y servicios públicos, distinto del campo.

Word origin

Derived from Latin civitas 'citizen body' via Old Spanish ciudat, ciudad denotes an organized urban community of inhabitants.

Usage tips

  • Words ending in -dad are feminine, so use la ciudad, and when referring to a named city the article is usually omitted.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word