city of brotherly love: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “city of brotherly love” mean?
A nickname for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, derived from the literal translation of its Greek name.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nickname for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, derived from the literal translation of its Greek name.
Used as a poetic or promotional epithet for Philadelphia, often evoking ideals of community, harmony, and historical significance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in an American context. British usage would only occur in specific reference to Philadelphia (e.g., in historical or travel contexts).
Connotations
In the US, it carries connotations of American history (founding, Liberty Bell), urban identity, and sometimes ironic contrast with the city's gritty reputation. In the UK, it is a distant geographical/cultural reference.
Frequency
Very low frequency in the UK. Low but recognizable frequency in the US, primarily in formal, historical, or promotional materials.
Grammar
How to Use “city of brotherly love” in a Sentence
[The] city of brotherly love [verb: is, was, has...][Preposition] the city of brotherly loveVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in corporate history or location descriptions for Philadelphia-based companies.
Academic
Used in historical, cultural, or urban studies texts referring to Philadelphia.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used by tour guides, in travel writing, or in formal introductions.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “city of brotherly love”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “city of brotherly love”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'New York is a city of brotherly love').
- Misspelling 'brotherly'.
- Using it without the definite article 'the' when it's part of the full nickname.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a well-known historical and formal nickname, but in everyday conversation, people usually just say 'Philadelphia' or 'Philly'.
No, it is a fixed proper noun referring specifically to Philadelphia. Using it for another city would be incorrect and confusing.
It is a direct English translation of 'Philadelphia', the city's name, which was chosen by its founder, William Penn. 'Philadelphia' combines the Greek words 'phileo' (to love) and 'adelphos' (brother).
They are aware of it, but it is used more often by outsiders, in tourism, or in formal/historical contexts rather than in casual local speech.
A nickname for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, derived from the literal translation of its Greek name.
City of brotherly love is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
City of brotherly love: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪti əv ˈbrʌðəli lʌv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪɾi əv ˈbrʌðɚli lʌv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'philos' (love) and 'adelphos' (brother) in Greek = Philadelphia = City of Brotherly Love.
Conceptual Metaphor
CITY IS A FAMILY (with bonds of affection).
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'city of brotherly love' a nickname for?