dhaka: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal, Geographic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “dhaka” mean?
The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.
Often used as a metonym for the central government, culture, or densely populated urban life of Bangladesh. Historically, also refers to the fine muslin textile (also called 'Dacca muslin') produced in the region.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Historical spelling 'Dacca' is more common in older British texts; 'Dhaka' is the modern, standard transliteration used in both varieties.
Connotations
In British historical context, may evoke colonial era (East India Company, British Raj). In American context, more likely associated with modern news (climate change, global south, urbanization).
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British media due to historical Commonwealth ties, but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “dhaka” in a Sentence
located in/near Dhakatravel to/from Dhakabased in Dhakaoriginating from DhakaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dhaka” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb use]
American English
- [No standard verb use]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb use]
American English
- [No standard adverb use]
adjective
British English
- A piece of exquisite Dhaka muslin.
- The Dhaka-based diplomat.
American English
- The Dhaka office is closed today.
- Dhaka traffic is legendary.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of outsourcing, textile industry, and emerging markets. e.g., 'Our Dhaka office handles regional logistics.'
Academic
Used in geography, urban studies, development economics, and South Asian history papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing travel, world news, or geography. e.g., 'My cousin is flying to Dhaka next week.'
Technical
In meteorology/climate science, cited for flood risk and urban heat island studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dhaka”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dhaka”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dhaka”
- Misspelling as 'Daka', 'Dakha', or 'Dhacca'.
- Incorrect pronunciation with a hard 'D' and strong 'h' (e.g., /dʰɑːkə/).
- Using lowercase for the city name (should be capitalised).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, it's /ˈdæk.ə/ (DACK-uh). In American English, it's often /ˈdɑː.kə/ (DAH-kuh). The 'h' is silent in both.
'Dacca' is an older, colonial-era Romanization of the city's name. 'Dhaka' is the modern, standard spelling that better reflects the Bengali pronunciation and has been officially used since 1982.
Very rarely. In a historical textile context, uncapitalized 'dhaka' can refer to the fine muslin produced in the region, but this usage is archaic and specialist.
Dhaka is often cited in discussions about climate change (due to flood risk), rapid urbanization in the Global South, the global garment industry, and megacity challenges like traffic and pollution.
The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.
Dhaka is usually formal, geographic, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to the word 'Dhaka']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Dhaka' sounds like 'Duck-a'. Imagine a duck navigating the busy, river-filled city of Dhaka.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HUB IS A HEART (Dhaka is the heart of Bangladesh's political and economic life). A CROWDED PLACE IS A PRESSURE COOKER (Dhaka's infamous traffic and density).
Practice
Quiz
What is the modern, standard English spelling for the capital of Bangladesh?