Capital vs. Capitol: Understanding the Difference

Capital vs. Capitol: What’s the Difference?

Today, we will learn about two words: capital and capitol. These words look almost the same, but they mean different things. Let’s find out more about them!

History

The word capital comes from the Latin word caput, which means “head.” This makes sense because a capital city is like the head of a country or state.

The word capitol comes from another Latin word, Capitolium, which was a temple in ancient Rome. Now, it means a building where lawmakers meet.

How to Use “Capital”

The word “capital” can mean:

• The most important city in a country or state (like Washington, D.C. or Paris).
• Money you can use to start or grow a business.
• A big letter (like A, B, C).

Example Sentences for “Capital”

1. Paris is the capital of France.
2. We need more capital to start our new shop.
3. Remember to use a capital letter at the start of a sentence.
4. Tokyo is the capital city of Japan.
5. The company raised capital from investors.

How to Use “Capitol”

The word “capitol” means:

• A building where lawmakers meet to make laws.

Example Sentences for “Capitol”

1. The U.S. Capitol is in Washington, D.C.
2. We visited the state capitol on our field trip.
3. Lawmakers met at the capitol to discuss new laws.
4. The capitol building is very old and beautiful.
5. The capitol has a large dome on top.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Here’s an easy trick to remember the difference:

The word capital ends with an “a” like “a city,” and capitol ends with an “o” like “office” (a place where people go to work).

Summary

To sum up:

• Capital can mean a city, money, or a big letter.
• Capitol means a building where lawmakers meet.

Remember this simple trick to tell them apart: capital ends in “a” like “a city” and capitol ends in “o” like “office.”