Ciudad de Guatemala
/θjuˌdad de ɡwateˈmala/feminine
Guatemala City is translated into Spanish as Ciudad de Guatemala. Wiktionary also lists Guatemala.
Meaning: capital of Guatemala (name)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ciudad de Guatemala | /θjuˌdad de ɡwateˈmala/ /sjuˌdad de ɡwateˈmala/ |
feminine |
| Guatemala | /ɡwateˈmala/ | feminine |
The phrase refers to the capital of the country of Guatemala. When you want to specify "the City of Guatemala," you place the definite article la before the name, resulting in la Ciudad de Guatemala. Note that the abbreviation Guate is used colloquially, but it can refer to the country of Guatemala rather than just the city.
What does it mean word for word?
Ciudad de Guatemala literally translates to "City of Guatemala."
Which one should you use?
Ciudad de Guatemala refers specifically to the capital city, whereas Guatemala refers to the country itself.
How do you pronounce it?
/θjuˌdad de ɡwateˈmala/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying "Guatemala City" when speaking Spanish, as this is an English construction. Use the Spanish name Ciudad de Guatemala instead.
Did you know?
- Because the city has been moved several times due to earthquakes, locals distinguish between Ciudad de Guatemala and Antigua Guatemala, the former colonial capital.
- The name Guatemala comes from the Nahuatl word Cuauhtēmallān, meaning 'place of the woodpile'.
- The city's layout is a grid system known as traza, a Spanish colonial planning method that differentiates it from the organic growth of older European cities.
Examples in context
- Ciudad de Guatemala es la capital de Guatemala.Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala.This sentence is useful for identifying the capital of the country using the form Guatemala.Tatoeba #7910021 by MarijnKp, translation #7909218 by MarijnKp
- Visité Ciudad de Guatemala el año pasado y quedé maravillado por su rica culturaI visited Guatemala City last year and I was amazed by its rich culture
- El presidente llegará mañana a la Ciudad de Guatemala para una reunión oficialThe president will arrive tomorrow in Guatemala City for an official meeting
- Estuve en Guate la semana pasada y me encantó su comida típicaI was in Guate last week and I loved its typical food
- Mañana viajaré a la Ciudad de Guatemala.Tomorrow I will travel to Guatemala City.
- El tráfico en la Ciudad de Guatemala es terrible.The traffic in Guatemala City is terrible.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing a future trip.
- Alejandro¿A dónde quieres ir de vacaciones, María?Where do you want to go on vacation, María?
- MaríaQuiero visitar la Ciudad de Guatemala.I want to visit Guatemala City.
- Alejandro¡Qué buena idea! Me gusta ese lugar.What a great idea! I like that place.
- MaríaEntonces vamos juntos este año.Then let's go together this year.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guatemala city” translations and entries Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Guatemala, ciudad, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
