name
Common
Istanbul
ih-stan-BUUL
Istanbul (name) means Turkey's largest city, straddling both Europe and Asia, and the former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Example: “Istanbul is famous for its historic mosques and busy bazaars.”
name
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Turkey's largest city, straddling both Europe and Asia, and the former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
"Nearly a century ago, my grandfather passed through Istanbul en route to Europe along with hordes of other White Russians fleeing the Russian civil war."
— Ivan Watson, Loud, anarchic, quirky: My love affair with Istanbul (2014)
"Istanbul is famous for its historic mosques and busy bazaars."
How to use Istanbul
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTurkey's largest city, previously known as Constantinople and, before that, Byzantium.
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_____ is famous for its historic mosques and busy bazaars.
Etymology
From Ottoman Turkish, likely adapted from the Byzantine Greek phrase eis ten polin, "to the city" — how local Greeks commonly referred to Constantinople.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Istanbul” mean?
The word “Istanbul” means turkey's largest city, straddling both Europe and Asia, and the former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. In plain terms, turkey's largest city, previously known as Constantinople and, before that, Byzantium.
How do you pronounce “Istanbul”?
“Istanbul” is pronounced ih-stan-BUUL (/ˈɪ.stɑːn.bʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Istanbul” in a sentence?
Here is “Istanbul” used in a sentence: “Istanbul is famous for its historic mosques and busy bazaars.”
What part of speech is “Istanbul”?
“Istanbul” is a name.
Where does the word “Istanbul” come from?
The word “Istanbul” comes from Greek. From Ottoman Turkish, likely adapted from the Byzantine Greek phrase eis ten polin, "to the city" — how local Greeks commonly referred to Constantinople.
Is “Istanbul” a common word?
“Istanbul” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Why does Istanbul straddle two continents?
Istanbul straddles both Europe and Asia because the city sits on either side of the Bosphorus Strait, the narrow waterway that separates the two continents. This unique geographic position has shaped its history as a crossroads between East and West.
Was Istanbul ever the capital of an empire?
Yes, Istanbul served as the former capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Today it remains Turkey's largest city, though it is not the country's current capital.
Is Istanbul the capital of Turkey?
No, Istanbul is Turkey's largest city but not its current capital; that role is held by Ankara. Istanbul was, however, the former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
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