cape town: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, News, Geographical
Quick answer
What does “cape town” mean?
A major port city in South Africa, legislative capital of the country, known for its Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major port city in South Africa, legislative capital of the country, known for its Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope.
Can represent the Western Cape region, its government, or its cultural and economic influence. Often used metonymically for South African politics or tourism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. American English may use 'Cape Town' slightly more in travel/geography contexts, while British English may have stronger historical-colonial associations.
Connotations
Similar connotations (scenic beauty, political history, wine region, tourism destination).
Frequency
Frequency is largely dependent on context (news about South Africa, travel). No major UK/US disparity.
Grammar
How to Use “cape town” in a Sentence
located in/near Cape Townbased in Cape Townflew to/from Cape Townthe city of Cape TownVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cape town” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Cape Town-based company
- Cape Town weather
American English
- Cape Town-style architecture
- Cape Town neighborhoods
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the business hub of the Western Cape, e.g., 'Our Cape Town office handles African operations.'
Academic
Used in geography, political science, or history discussing South Africa, e.g., 'The study analysed migration patterns to Cape Town.'
Everyday
Used in travel plans or general knowledge, e.g., 'We're hoping to visit Cape Town next year.'
Technical
In aviation/metrology as a named location, e.g., 'The flight plan includes a stopover in Cape Town.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cape town”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cape town”
- Writing as one word 'Capetown' (standard is two words).
- Incorrect capitalisation: 'cape town'.
- Using 'the' unnecessarily: 'the Cape Town' is incorrect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Town is one of three capital cities. It is specifically the legislative capital, where Parliament sits. Pretoria is the administrative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.
It is named after the Cape of Good Hope, the nearby geographic landmark. The original Dutch settlement was called 'Kaapstad', meaning 'Cape City'.
Table Mountain, a flat-topped mountain that overlooks the city, is its most iconic landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Always capitalise both words: 'Cape Town'. The unhyphenated form is standard, though 'Cape-Town' is occasionally seen in historical or compound contexts.
A major port city in South Africa, legislative capital of the country, known for its Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope.
Cape town is usually formal, news, geographical in register.
Cape town: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkeɪp ˈtaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkeɪp ˈtaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the Cape of Storms (historical name for the region)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TOWN at the CAPE of a continent, with a flat TABLE mountain nearby.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GATEWAY (to South Africa, to the Cape). A MELTING POT (of cultures).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of Cape Town in the South African government?