urbs
[ˈʊrps]feminine
The Latin word for city is urbs, a feminine noun for a large settlement with its buildings and streets. Latin also uses civitas for the city as a community. If unsure, use urbs.
Meaning: large settlement (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| urbs | [ˈʊrps] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈurbs] (narrow) |
feminine |
| civitas | [ˈkiː.wɪ.taːs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈt͡ʃiː.vi.tas] (narrow) |
feminine |
urbs is the word for the physical city. Romans often used it to mean Rome itself, as in Urbs Roma est clara.
Which one should you use?
urbs refers to the physical city, its buildings and its layout. civitas refers to the community of citizens or the political state rather than the buildings.
How does it change in a sentence?
urbs is a feminine noun of the third declension. Its genitive singular is urbis, its accusative singular is urbem, its genitive plural is urbium and its dative plural is urbibus.
Did you know?
- The word urbs is a distant relative of the English word 'yard'. Both likely come from an ancient root meaning 'to enclose'.
- In Latin, the root of civitas describes the entire political state or body of citizens, while in English, 'civility' refers to polite behavior.
- While an urbs is a place you can walk through, a civitas is a legal entity that one can belong to even if they have never physically been there.
Examples in context
- Urbī ferrō flammāque minātus est.He threatened the city with fire and sword.Urbī is the dative form, showing the city as the one threatened.
- Urbs Roma est clara.The city of Rome is famous.Urbs Roma means the city of Rome.Tatoeba #677972 by rado, translation #1931784 by CN
- Estne terra an urbs?Is that a country or a city?urbs is contrasted with the word for a country.Tatoeba #1347596 by alexmarcelo, translation #1566558 by marcelostockle
- Roma est urbs magnificaRome is a magnificent city.
- Civitas AlexandrinaThe city of Alexandria
- Amo vivere in urbeI love living in the city.
- Romam civitatem aeternam esse credimusWe believe Rome is an eternal city.
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucia and Gaius are discussing their travel plans.
- LuciaQuo modo ad urbem pervenimus?How do we reach the city?
- GaiusPer viam longam itura sumus.We will go by a long road.
- LuciaHaec urbs est magna et pulchra.This city is large and beautiful.
- GaiusIta est, Lucia.It is so, Lucia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “city” translations and entries urbs, civitas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries civitas, urbs, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
