thumbnail

Capital Cities with the Same Name as Their Country

There are 11 countries whose names are the same as their capital city. How many can you name?
READ THIS: Includes capitals which add the word "city" or foreign-language equivalent
Quiz by Jerry928
Rate:
Last updated: December 24, 2019
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
First submittedJune 7, 2014
Times taken72,223
Average score63.6%
Rating4.33
4:00
Enter country name here:
0
 / 11 guessed
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Country
Andorra
Djibouti
Guatemala
Kuwait
Luxembourg
Mexico
Country
Monaco
Panama
San Marino
Singapore
Vatican City
104 Comments
+66
Level 52
Jun 9, 2014
Sao Tome is the capital of Sao Tome and Principe (ignore the lack of accent marks....too tired to find them)
+24
Level 66
Apr 6, 2015
I agree with Spanky, Sao Tome's capital is Sao Tome. Please add
+17
Level 76
Apr 6, 2015
The country name is two words longer than the capital name.
+89
Level 51
Apr 23, 2015
And the capital of Andorra is actually Andorra la Vella, but it's still on here. Along with Kuwait, Mexico, and Guatemala which all have City in their name. I think Sao Tome should be on here.
+12
Level 76
Apr 23, 2015
Please see the instructions!
+5
Level 37
Jun 30, 2024
If it is written... But Sao Tome makes much more sense than Andorra, considering just the title. If you type Andorra in the country capitals, it doesn't work and Sao Tome does.
+1
Level 61
Apr 7, 2025
"La Vella" means "the old", non "the city"
+51
Level 48
Sep 30, 2016
Andorra's capital is Andorra la Vella, so if you allow Andorra, you should also allow Sao Tome for consistency's sake. Other than that, great quiz.
+3
Level 76
Sep 30, 2016
Malbaby has answered your (Carter's) point further down.
+17
Level 47
Nov 6, 2017
Or you guys can all realize it's translated to Andorra City (or village, town, something in that area).
+10
Level 48
Jun 30, 2024
Nope it's translated to "Andorra the Old"

https://translate.google.fr/?sl=ca&tl=fr&text=vella&op=translate

+7
Level 67
Jun 30, 2024
No, it isn't. It's a Catalan word. Catalan is tricky because it's a hybrid language. Google is mistaking "vella" for "vielle," which means old. It is actually derived from "villa," which means "city." "Andorra the City."
+12
Level 36
Jul 28, 2018
In Andorra, the capital is two words longer than the country, yet you've included Andorra so why not Sao Tome?
+5
Level 76
Jul 28, 2018
Malbaby has answered your point further down.
+30
Level 69
Jul 31, 2018
Andorra la Vella, Vella = Old, and not 'City' as in your instructions, so...
+10
Level 55
Jul 21, 2023
"Andorra la Vella means "Andorra the Town", to distinguish it from the Principality of Andorra as a whole.[3] Although in Catalan the word vella (like French vieille) is derived from the Latin word vetula which means "old", the Vella here (like French ville and Catalan vila) is derived from the Latin word villa and means "town".[4]"
+3
Level 48
Jun 30, 2024
Nope "vella" means "old"

https://translate.google.fr/?sl=ca&tl=fr&text=vella&op=translate

+1
Level 86
Jun 30, 2024
As pointed out in other comments, the original meaning refers to 'city' or 'town.' From the book "Andorra," by Carrick (1988): In fact, vella is a corruption of the Latin word villa, meaning 'city'. Thus Andorra la Vella merely means 'the city of Andorra'.

And on a more philosophical note, Google isn't motivated by truth or correctness - they're motivated by money. Granted, giving correct info generally corresponds with more money - but never forget where the true motivation lies, and the possible nuances that can occur.

+38
Level 54
Apr 11, 2019
If this is the case then Guinea-Bissau should be included, since its capital is Bissau.
+2
Level 48
Oct 6, 2021
Plus, Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, which is a country according to Jetpunk.com
+21
Level 52
Jan 22, 2022
brasilia brasil algier algeria tunis tunisia
+4
Level 57
Jul 6, 2014
Needs more time. 9/11
+11
Level 81
Jul 6, 2014
Got all with 3 minutes to spare. There's more than enough time.
+42
Level 58
Feb 22, 2016
your not from Al Qaeda, are you?
+7
Level 71
Jun 14, 2017
Oh dear.
+18
Level 91
Apr 22, 2019
Seals did 9/11?
+3
Level 77
Dec 13, 2023
uh oh
+1
Level 36
Jun 30, 2024
Singapore did 9/11
+1
Level 65
Jan 27, 2025
thank you so much i got 11/11 because of singapore
+5
Level 5
Jul 6, 2014
Missed one, I don't even try Andorra for i am so sure its Andorra La Vella... So tricky;0
+1
Level 76
Jul 6, 2014
+4
Level 53
Jul 6, 2014
How are El Salvador and San Salvador translated?
+9
Level 76
Jul 6, 2014
The Savior, and St Savior (or Holy Savior). That pairing is one of many near-misses that don't qualify here. Maybe we should also do a quiz of Country Name Fairly Similar To Capital Name, which would also capture El Salvador/San Salvador, Algeria/Algiers, São Tomé and Príncipe/São Tomé, Guinea-Bissau/Bissau, Brazil/Brasilia and Tunisia/Tunis!
+4
Level 44
Jul 6, 2014
Guinea-Bissau isn't really a near miss. They just appended the name of the capital onto the name of the country, to distinguish it from all the other countries named Guinea. If you included it, you'd have to also consider including, for example, Congo-Brazzaville.
+3
Level 59
Jul 3, 2020
For completionists sake, other a little bit further misses could be Belize/Belmopan (city is a merge of the name of the country and a river) and Maldives/Male (the country name means "isles of Male").
+2
Level 67
Jul 6, 2014
Try this game, it has all of them in it, even when the capitol name is partially involved.

http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/110568/countries-with-their-capitol-name-in-it

+1
Level 46
Jul 6, 2014
Got every items but Mexico.
+4
Level 79
Feb 2, 2015
Quiz is amazing. Five stars *****
+1
Level 32
Apr 16, 2015
Easy one...
+8
Level 29
May 25, 2015
Brasilia, Tunisia and Algeria really should be on here
+10
Level 76
May 25, 2015
Brasilia isn't a country; Tunis and Algiers both have shorter names then their respective countries.
+3
Level 63
Aug 10, 2021
(And same for Sao Tome)
+1
Level 70
Nov 1, 2015
Good quiz, if you like a challenge try my 'Mal's most difficult Capitals quiz'
+4
Level 23
Dec 5, 2015
Why not Brazil - Brasilia
+10
Level 76
Dec 5, 2015
Because they're different
+3
Level 68
Jan 24, 2017
What do you think "Brasilia" means in Portuguese??
+14
Level 76
Jan 24, 2017
Not Brazil! (The Portuguese is Brasil)
+6
Level 25
Oct 5, 2016
According to Wikipedia, it says Andorra la Vella literally means Andorra the old.
+8
Level 43
Oct 23, 2016
Read the above comments before you post. There was literally a whole discussion about it.
+7
Level 91
Dec 22, 2018
"According to Wikipedia" = "Rumor has it".
+3
Level 58
Jan 5, 2017
Does anyone else think it's kind of racist that nowhere in South America made the list? #awk
+15
Level 87
Mar 27, 2017
Not in any way, shape, or form.
+9
Level 65
Jun 24, 2018
It's a joke, folks!
+6
Level 36
May 2, 2017
Give me a BREAK! How could it be racist? - There is NO country in South America which has the same name for its capital and the country. That ends in Central America with Guatemala, Mexico and Panama!
+6
Level 81
May 3, 2017
If you were a contemporary intersectional feminist or social justice warrior then you certainly would think it was racist. In addition to literally everything else.
+5
Level 48
Jun 30, 2024
please don't say bullshit about intersectional feminism
+3
Level 55
May 3, 2017
Missed Djibouti
+2
Level 35
Jun 30, 2024
thanks
+4
Level 45
May 11, 2017
Andorra is technically Andorra La Vella. So by rights Sao Tome should be accepted.
+4
Level 71
Jun 14, 2017
"_and Principe".
+4
Level 47
Nov 6, 2017
Or you can realize that "la Vella" translates to City/Village/whatever shows township.
+4
Level 48
Jun 30, 2024
Nope it means "old"

https://translate.google.fr/?sl=ca&tl=fr&text=vella&op=translate

+1
Level 67
Aug 16, 2024
That's Google Translate, the infamously incorrect translation tool.
+5
Level 59
Sep 18, 2021
Sure. As soon as you show us a language in which "and Principe" means "city." ;-)

Please, show us that language. I would really love to see the sh*tshow it would cause. :-D

+4
Level 71
Sep 9, 2017
The capital City of Andorra is not Andorra. It's Andorra la Vella
+5
Level 76
Sep 9, 2017
See discussion on this, above.
+3
Level 82
Mar 1, 2020
The caveat says "including foreign language equivalents of 'city'". "la Vella" means "the city". "and Principe" means "and Prince", so it's not included.
+1
Level 45
Dec 31, 2017
Just say a bunch of european micro nations and boom! You get 5 there
+1
Level 66
Jun 30, 2024
Luxembourg isn’t a micronation.
+10
Level 46
Jun 24, 2018
In Arabic, the capitals of Algeria and Tunisia are the same as the countries' names. Tunisia is just Tunis in Arabic, with its capital being the same. Algeria is Al Jazzaer, capital is the same.
+5
Level 76
Dec 25, 2018
You'll see those answers in the Arabic version of this quiz.
+4
Level 68
Dec 21, 2018
Thanks for the quiz Jerry. Sorry about all the ‘abuse’ you’ve gotten over the years for including Andorra and not including answers that shouldn’t be there. I think everything is correct and it’s a shame Wikipedia is openly editable.
+1
Level 33
Dec 21, 2018
Hey Jerry928, no offence mate but I have the same quiz, and it would be better if you would give 'em a little hint like their continent of something, BTW the quiz is great
+5
Level 68
Dec 21, 2018
This quiz was originally made over 4 years ago, so this is by far the original quiz. Not saying you directly copied of course, since this kind of thing happens often as people come up with the same great idea.
+4
Level 76
Dec 21, 2018
Useless information department: this was the very first quiz of ours that Dan featured. Those were the days...
+3
Level 68
Dec 21, 2018
Certainly not useless in my opinion! You’ve definitely come a long way from then!
+1
Level 44
Apr 11, 2019
Damn you Mexico.
+3
Level 49
Dec 10, 2019
Andorra shouldn't be there. Andorra's capital is Andorra la Vella.
+1
Level 63
Aug 10, 2021
Please read the comment section!
+1
Level 79
Oct 16, 2023
Which translates to "Andorra the City," which counts according to the instructions.
+6
Level 82
Feb 10, 2020
At least add a caveat that says Sao Tome and Guinea-Bissau aren't included
+3
Level 67
May 6, 2023
They're not inside their capitals names. Sao Tome is not a country. Sao Tome and Principe is.
+1
Level 37
Jun 30, 2020
How about Brazil?
+2
Level 63
Aug 10, 2021
Since when is Brasilia a country?
+1
Level 69
Oct 13, 2020
Reading comments I agree.

If Andorra is on here despite being called Andorra La Vella, São Tomé should be on here despite being called São Tomé and Príncipe.

+1
Level 82
May 21, 2021
Read the caveats. The capital's name can include "city". "la Vella" translates to "the city" so it is allowed. São Tomé is not included because it does not include the whole name of the country.
+3
Level 63
Aug 10, 2021
Not suggesting these, but thought it was interesting how many others are similar but not the same as their countries;

Algiers, Brasilia, San Salvador, Santo Domingo, Taipei, and Tunis.

+2
Level 27
Aug 13, 2021
what about Tunisia and Algeria?
+2
Level 50
Nov 1, 2021
In my opinion, Mexico, Kuwait, Guatemala, Panama, and Andorra shouldn't be there. The capitals of these are officially: Mexico: Mexico City, Kuwait: Kuwait City, Guatemala: Guatemala City, Panama: Panama City, Andorra: Andorra la Vella ('la Vella' translates to 'City').
+4
Level 76
Nov 1, 2021
Please note the instructions.
+2
Level 17
Dec 28, 2021
Plz do brazil
+2
Level 54
Mar 16, 2024
The capital of Tunisia is Tunis in arabic its the same and for Algeria also
+3
Level 68
Jun 30, 2024
I thought the capital of Monaco is Monte Carlo
+7
Level 66
Jun 30, 2024
How on Earth are you at level 66 and still thinking this?
+3
Level 20
Jun 30, 2024
lol that’s craaazy
+1
Level 76
Jul 1, 2024
Monaco is divided into nine wards (one of which is Monte Carlo). Monaco's parliament is sited in another ward called Monaco-Ville, or, in English, Monaco Town.
+3
Level 59
Jun 30, 2024
Can't believe I almost missed Mexico City...most guessed answer!
+3
Level 62
Jun 30, 2024
Forgot all of the small European ones my first time doing the quiz
+1
Level 72
Jun 30, 2024
Got all but Guatemala City... the only one I've actually been to. Got tunnel vision at the end trying to remember less obvious answers that I missed the one smacking me in the face.
+2
Level 72
Jun 30, 2024
It would be a somewhat more interesting quiz to broaden it to "Countries with related capital names." Tunisia and Algeria are named after their capitals, Brasilia is named after Brazil, etc.
+2
Level 48
Jul 1, 2024
Andorra is Andorra la Vella??
+1
Level 33
Jul 5, 2024
Read the comments
+1
Level 61
Oct 29, 2024
Its insane how people dont read the comments hahaha
+1
Level 55
Feb 7, 2025
Or the caveat...