‘Capital’ vs. ‘Capitol’ Explained: How to Use ‘Capital’ vs. ‘Capitol’

“Capital” and “capitol” are homophones, which means they sound alike. They are also spelled almost identically. While the word “capital” has many definitions, the word “capitol” exclusively refers to a capitol building or buildings that house a legislature.

• Capital: The word “capital” can refer to money, uppercase letters, the death penalty, and capital cities that house a seat of government.
• Capitol: The word “capitol” always refers to a physical capitol building (such as the US Capitol building) or the area surrounding it (such as Capitol Hill).

To distinguish between these commonly confused words, ask yourself if you are referring to a specific building and the area around it. If so, use the word “capitol.” In all other cases, use the word “capital.”

“Capital” and “capitol” each come from “caput,” the Latin word for "head." The word “capitol” specifically traces to the Roman “Capitōlium,” a temple honoring the god Jupiter that was located on Rome's Capitoline Hill.

The word “capitol” always refers to a type of building that houses the legislative branch of government. If you are referring to anything other than a building or the area directly surrounding it, use the word “capital.” For example, “The US Congress meets in the United States Capitol building, which is located in the nation's capital of Washington, DC."

The following sentences make correct use of the word “capitol.”

• The newspaper sent a reporter to the state capitol building in Albany.
• The Capitol is under construction, so our state government is meeting in a temporary space.
• The senator lives on Capitol Hill, so she can easily walk to work.

The word “capital” has several different meanings in the English language.

• A place: A city or region typically serves as a state or country’s capital and houses the seat of government.
• A crime: A capital offense is a crime punishable by death while capital punishment is the death penalty itself.
• An uppercase letter: Capital letters are letters in the uppercase.
• Money: Capital can describe money or other items of value—venture capital, for example.
• Something excellent: For example, a capital idea is an excellent one.

The following sentences make proper use of the word “capital.”

• Washington, DC, is the capital of the United States.
• Be sure to capitalize the first letter of a proper noun.
• We will be generating capital through a round of targeted fundraising.
• The state legislature has outlawed capital punishment.

Become a better writer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including James Patterson, Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more.