metrópoli

metropolis

noun meh-TROH-poh-lee Rare

Origin: From Greek metropolis (mother city), from meter (mother) + polis (city).

Usage Note

Metrópoli (also spelled metrópolis) denotes a large, dominant city or urban center. Both spellings are accepted by the RAE; metrópoli (proparoxytone, stress on the antepenultimate syllable) is more common in formal writing, while metrópolis preserves the original Greek form. The adjective is metropolitano, as in área metropolitana (metropolitan area).

Examples

"Madrid es una metrópoli cosmopolita."

Natural Translation

Madrid is a cosmopolitan metropolis.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Tell Time in Spanish: A Beginner's Guide

Tell time in Spanish with one formula: es la una vs son las, y and menos for minutes, plus de la mañana, en punto, and 24-hour station times.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

Spain vs Latin American Spanish: Key Differences

Spain and Latin American Spanish are fully mutually intelligible. Compare vosotros vs ustedes, coche vs carro, the 'th' sound, and learn which one to study.

June 9, 2026 6 min read