California

The word “California” means the most populous U.S. state, on the Pacific coast, whose capital is Sacramento.

“California” is pronounced ka-lih-FAW-nee-uh (/ˌkælɪˈfoɹnjə/ in IPA).

Here is “California” used in a sentence: “They drove up the coast of California all summer.”

“California” is a name.

The word “California” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Spanish. Probably from a Utopian island of the Amazons named in a 16th-century Spanish novel.

“California” is a very common word in modern English.

The capital is Sacramento, in the northern part of the state. Although Sacramento is the seat of government, it isn't California's biggest city — that's Los Angeles, followed by San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Many people wrongly assume LA or San Francisco is the capital.

California's official nickname, the Golden State, reflects the 1848 Gold Rush that drew hundreds of thousands of hopeful settlers. It also nods to the golden poppies — the state flower — that blanket its hills each spring, and to the state's sunny, golden light and landscape.

California is famous for Hollywood and the film industry, Silicon Valley and technology, its Pacific beaches, and national parks such as Yosemite. It also boasts wine country and a warm climate. As the most populous US state, it has the largest economy of any state, rivaling entire nations.

California is a state — the most populous of the fifty United States, on the west coast facing the Pacific Ocean. It is not a city, though it contains many famous ones, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and its capital, Sacramento.