Algiers

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A capital city located on the Mediterranean coast, known for its rich history and architecture
2. An important city in North Africa, celebrated for its cultural heritage and various historical influences
3. The largest city in Algeria, serving as a political and economic center with diverse landmarks and attractions

Etymology: The city's name is simply the Arabic word for "islands," and its history explains why. The Arabic "al-jazāʔir" is the plural of "jazīra," meaning "island," and it referred to the several small islands that once lay off the coast of the Bay of Algiers. Over the centuries, harbour works and land reclamation joined those islands to the mainland, so the plural name now describes a shoreline that no longer has any islands at all. The name reached Europe through French, which gave us "Alger," and from there English adopted it for the city. The same Arabic source produced "Algeria," the country, and "Algeciras," a Spanish port, making them doublets: two forms of one word that entered a language by different routes. The Arabic form is itself a plural, so the name of the whole country and its capital grew from the plural of a single word for island.

Synonyms: capital of Algeria, Algiers city