Geography · Countries & capitals
Country → capital
Match countries to capitals.
What is a capital city?
Every country has a special city called its capital. The capital is where the government works and important decisions are made. It is often the most famous city in that country. London is the capital of the United Kingdom. Paris is the capital of France. Learning capitals helps us understand the world better.
Why do we need to know capitals?
Capitals appear on maps and in the news all the time. When something important happens in a country, it often happens in the capital. Knowing capitals helps you follow world events and understand geography. It also makes travel and learning about cultures much more interesting.
How to remember country-capital pairs
Some capitals have the same name as their country, like Mexico City in Mexico. Other capitals sound similar to the country name, like Athens in Greece. Some are completely different, like Canberra in Australia. Looking at a map helps you see where the capital sits in the country.
Common mistakes to avoid
The biggest city is not always the capital. Sydney is huge, but Canberra is Australia's capital. New York is famous, but Washington D.C. is the USA's capital. Always check carefully before matching a country to its capital city.
Worked examples
1. What is the capital of Italy?
- Think about what you know about Italy.
- Italy is famous for ancient history and the Colosseum.
- Rome is the historic city where the Colosseum stands.
- Rome is the capital of Italy.
2. What is the capital of Japan?
- Japan is an island country in Asia.
- Tokyo is a very large and famous Japanese city.
- Tokyo is where the Japanese government is based.
- Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
3. What is the capital of Egypt?
- Egypt is in North Africa, famous for pyramids.
- Cairo is the biggest city in Egypt.
- Cairo sits near the River Nile and the pyramids.
- Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Try it yourself
What is the capital of Spain?
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