ciudad
/θjuˈdad/feminine
The English word 'city' is translated into Spanish as ciudad. Wiktionary also lists urbe.
Meaning: large settlement (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ciudad | /θjuˈdad/ /sjuˈdad/ |
feminine |
| urbe | /ˈuɾbe/ | feminine |
The word refers to a large settlement. Both ciudad and urbe are feminine nouns used to describe such settlements.
Which one should you use?
While ciudad is the standard word for a city, urbe is used to specifically describe a metropolis or a large urban center.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Argentina or Colombia, the term Pueblo might be used to refer to a city or town.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ciudad is ciudades.
How do you pronounce it?
/θjuˈdad/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase ciudad dormitorio is used to describe 'commuter towns' where people only sleep but do not work.
- The word ciudad comes from the Latin civitas, which originally referred to the body of citizens rather than the geographic area.
- While English speakers use 'city' and 'town' to distinguish size, a Spanish speaker might call a place a pueblo based on its atmosphere or cultural feel rather than its official population.
Examples in context
- Soy de la ciudad.I'm from the city.This sentence is useful for stating where you are from using ciudad.Tatoeba #3182203 by cueyayotl, translation #1743480 by Spamster
- La ciudad es bella.The city is beautiful.This sentence is useful for describing a city as beautiful using ciudad.Tatoeba #1307073 by marcelostockle, translation #4889851 by warrenbisch
- Me gusta tu ciudad.I like your city.This sentence is useful for expressing a liking for someone's city using ciudad.Tatoeba #2130858 by marcelostockle, translation #2131114 by CM
- Madrid es una hermosa ciudad.Madrid is a beautiful city.
- 709 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking about their travel plans.
- Javier¿A qué ciudad quieres ir?Which city do you want to go to?
- LucíaQuiero visitar una ciudad pequeña.I want to visit a small city.
- JavierEsa es una buena idea, Lucía.That is a good idea, Lucía.
- LucíaSí, prefiero la tranquilidad de la ciudad.Yes, I prefer the tranquility of the city.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “city” translations and entries ciudad, urbe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
