name
Common
Vancouver
van-KOO-v
Vancouver (name) means a major city in British Columbia, Canada, named after the explorer George Vancouver. Example: “They watched the sunset over the harbor in Vancouver.”
name
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A major city in British Columbia, Canada, named after the explorer George Vancouver.
"They watched the sunset over the harbor in Vancouver."
"PS: The average commute time in the freewayless City of Vancouver is 27 minutes, while outside of the City of Vancouver the average commute time is 31 minutes."
— Nathan Pachal, TomTom Congestion Index Useless for Metro Vancouver (2012)
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Word forms
- Plural
- Vancouvers
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They watched the sunset over the harbor in _____.
Etymology
The family name is from the Dutch place name Coevorden (“the place where cows ford the river”) via the Dutch family name van Coevorden (“a person from Coevorden”). The place names are derived from the family name, being named after George Vancouver, an English explorer who charted the northwestern Pacific coast of North America in a 1791–1794 expedition.
Rhymes for Vancouver
See all rhymes for Vancouver →Frequently asked questions
What does “Vancouver” mean?
The word “Vancouver” means a major city in British Columbia, Canada, named after the explorer George Vancouver.
How do you pronounce “Vancouver”?
“Vancouver” is pronounced van-KOO-v (/vænˈkuː.vɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Vancouver” in a sentence?
Here is “Vancouver” used in a sentence: “They watched the sunset over the harbor in Vancouver.”
What part of speech is “Vancouver”?
“Vancouver” is a name.
Is “Vancouver” a common word?
“Vancouver” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Vancouver the city and Vancouver Island?
Vancouver is a major city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada, while Vancouver Island is a large separate island to its west. The provincial capital, Victoria, is on Vancouver Island, not in the city of Vancouver.
Is Vancouver the capital of British Columbia?
No. Vancouver is British Columbia's largest and best-known city, but the provincial capital is Victoria, located on Vancouver Island. The difference in size often causes this confusion.
Who was Vancouver named after?
The city is named after George Vancouver, a British explorer who charted the Pacific Northwest coast. Nearby Vancouver Island carries the same name.
Is there more than one Vancouver?
Yes. Besides Vancouver in British Columbia, there is a city called Vancouver in Washington State, USA, near Portland. The Canadian city is much larger and more widely known.
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