Cities

Caracas is the capital and largest city of Venezuela. As a proper noun, it refers to the nation’s political and cultural center and is commonly pronounced with two syllables and a stressed second syllable in many varieties of English, though some speakers place the stress earlier. In Spanish, the city name is pronounced with a clear final vowel and final s sound, reflecting its Spanish-language origin.

Casablanca is a proper noun referring to a major Moroccan city, well known for its historic medina, port, and as the setting of a famous 1942 wartime romance film. In everyday use, it designates the city itself or anything relating to it, and it functions as a location name in conversation and writing. The term is borrowed from Arabic and has entered multiple languages with minimal inflection.

Cologne is a city in western Germany known for its imposing cathedral and Roman heritage; it is also the name of a fragrant perfume associated with the city. In everyday English, the word refers to the perfume or to the city itself, pronounced as two syllables. The term merges geographic and cultural identity with a common consumer product.

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, situated on the island of Amager. It serves as the country’s political, economic, and cultural center, known for its historic harbor, modern design, and high quality of life. The name derives from the Danish words for 'merchant' and 'haven' and it functions as a major international hub.

Curitiba is a major Brazilian city, often referred to in Portuguese as a planned metropolis known for its green spaces and cultural institutions. Though foreign, the name is used in travel and business contexts worldwide. This noun denotes the city itself, not the people, and is typically capitalized. In pronunciation, stress falls on the second syllable, approximating KO-O-ree-TEE-bah for English-adapted speech, with regional Portuguese influence on vowel quality.

Delhi is a proper noun and the capital city of India, commonly pronounced with two syllables. It serves as a geopolitical, cultural, and historical hub; in English usage, it’s often treated as a place-name with a light, clipped stress pattern. The term carries formal, civic, and travel-related connotations and is frequently encountered in global news and everyday conversation about India.

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh, pronounced as a proper noun referring to the metropolis. It denotes the political, economic, and cultural center of the country and is used in formal and informal contexts when naming the capital. The term carries municipal and national significance and is spoken with a clear initial consonant cluster and a steady, short final vowel.

Dijon is a French proper noun referring to the city in eastern France, renowned for its mustard. In English, it is used as a place name and as a descriptor in culinary contexts (e.g., Dijon mustard). The word is a proper noun that preserves French pronunciation in many contexts, though anglicized variants can occur in casual speech.

Doha is the capital city of Qatar, a major Middle Eastern economic and cultural hub. As a proper place name, it is pronounced with two syllables and a short initial vowel, typically rendered as DOH-dah in English approximations. The word carries geopolitical and tourism relevance and is used in news, travel, and diplomacy contexts.

Dubai is a major city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates, known for its futuristic skyline and rapid development. As a noun, it refers to the city itself and, less commonly, to the emirate. The name is widely used in international travel, business, and media contexts.

Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland, a major cultural, economic, and historical hub. The term also refers to the surrounding county. As a proper noun, it denotes a specific place, with a distinctive pronunciation and a rich linguistic lineage that reflects its Irish origins and global usage.

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, known for its historic castle and distinctive highland atmosphere. As a proper noun, it refers specifically to the city and related institutions or residents. The pronunciation is distinctive, often surprising to non-native speakers, reflecting a layered Scots-English history rather than a straightforward spelling-to-sound mapping.

Eindhoven is a major Dutch city name used as a proper noun. It refers to the city in the southern Netherlands, known for technology and design. In pronunciation, it presents a Dutch phonetic profile that can challenge non-native speakers due to vowel quality and syllable structure.

Frankfurt is a city name used as a noun to refer to Germany’s financial hub, as well as the surname of notable individuals. In English, it denotes the major German city known for banking and transportation, and it appears in compound place-names and firm names. The pronunciation and spelling reflect German origins, and it is often used in international contexts with a clear, non-native-friendly stress pattern.

Geneva is a feminine given name and a city name pronounced with two syllables, typically /dʒɪˈniːvə/ in English. It also refers to the city in Switzerland, known for diplomacy and international organizations. The term blends historical roots from medieval Europe, ultimately tracing to the Latin Gaia or toponymic forms tied to the Alps region. In usage, it denotes proper nouns and formal references, with stress commonly on the second syllable in English.

Ghent is a proper noun referring to a historic city in Belgium, known for its medieval architecture and canals. In speech, it is pronounced as a single syllable with a hard “g” and a silent or nearly silent “h,” ending with a short alveolar nasal. This name functions as a geographical toponym and is used in news, travel, and cultural contexts without inflection.

Glasgow is a major Scottish city, used as a proper noun to name the city itself. In everyday speech it also serves as a demonym for people from Glasgow. The term carries distinctive regional pronunciation features and cultural associations, and appears in contexts ranging from geography and travel to sports and commentary.

Granada is a feminine proper noun used mainly as a city name (in Spain) and as a surname. It also refers to a pattern or substance named after the city in some contexts. The term is spoken with care to vowel clarity and syllable-timed rhythm, often with stress on the second syllable in Spanish pronunciations and on the first syllable in English contexts when referring to the place.

Graz is a proper noun referring to the second-largest city in Austria, known for its well-preserved old town and vibrant cultural scene. In English, it is typically pronounced with a hard

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. As a noun, it refers to the city itself and is commonly used in political, historical, and travel contexts. The word is pronounced with two syllables and a rising final, often anglicized in English to align with Vietnamese pronunciation while preserving recognizable English stress patterns.

Hanover is a proper noun used most often to refer to a historic German city or the British royal house whose name is carried by various places and institutions. In North American usage it also designates Hanover, a town or district, and can denote the carful of items in contexts like Hanoverian lineage. The term is primarily proper, with emphasis typically on the first syllable and a clear distinction between syllables for easy recognition in speech.

Harare is the capital city of Zimbabwe. As a proper noun referring to a place, it is usually pronounced with two syllables and a clear initial H sound. In everyday use, speakers treat it as a single, stressed word in English, with emphasis often on the first syllable. It is not a common English word beyond geography, but it appears frequently in news, travel, and cultural contexts.

Innsbruck is a city in western Austria, known historically as a center of trade and culture. The name refers specifically to the capital of the federal state of Tyrol and to the surrounding alpine region. In everyday use, it denotes the city itself, its landmarks, and the Austrian locale in contexts ranging from travel to history.

Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan, founded in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the political and administrative center. It is known for its orderly layout, green spaces, and government institutions. When spoken, the name is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, reflecting local Urdu pronunciation that blends English phonetics with South Asian phonology.