Vaticano
“Vaticano” means “The Vatican” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
The Vatican
Also: Vatican City
📝 In Action
El Vaticano es el país más pequeño del mundo.
A1The Vatican is the smallest country in the world.
Mañana visitaremos la Plaza de San Pedro en el Vaticano.
A2Tomorrow we will visit St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
El Vaticano emitió un comunicado oficial esta mañana.
B1The Vatican issued an official statement this morning.
Vatican
📝 In Action
La guardia vaticana lleva uniformes muy coloridos.
B1The Vatican guard wears very colorful uniforms.
Investigaron los archivos vaticanos durante meses.
B2They investigated the Vatican archives for months.
La diplomacia vaticana es muy influyente en Europa.
C1Vatican diplomacy is very influential in Europe.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Vaticano
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'The Vatican'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'Vaticanus,' which was the name of the hill on which the Vatican was built. The name likely comes from 'vates,' meaning 'prophet' or 'soothsayer,' as the area was once associated with divination.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'Vaticano' capitalized?
Yes, when referring to the city-state or the institution, it is a proper noun and should be capitalized.
Does the 'V' sound like a 'B'?
Yes! In Spanish, there is no difference in sound between 'V' and 'B'. You should pronounce it like a soft 'B'.
Is it a country or a city?
Technically, it is both. It is an independent city-state, the smallest country in the world, located inside the city of Rome.