Addis Ababa

American  

[ahd-dis ah-buh-bah, ad-is ab-uh-buh] / ˈɑd dɪs ˈɑ bəˌbɑ, ˈæd ɪs ˈæb ə bə /

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Ethiopia, in the central part.

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Addis Ababa British  

/ ˈædɪs ˈæbəbə /

noun

1. the capital of Ethiopia, on a central plateau 2400 m (8000 ft) above sea level: founded in 1887; became capital in 1896. Pop: 2 899 000 (2005 est)

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Addis Ababa Cultural  

1. Capital of Ethiopia and largest city in the country, located in the central region.

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Example Sentences

Last year, the U.S. announced plans to finance a $10 billion airport outside of the capital, Addis Ababa, as part of Washington’s efforts to extend its strategic and commercial interests in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Birhan Nega Cheru, a senior software engineer in Addis Ababa, is pleased with the shift.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Africa's heads of state are gathering in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for their annual meeting this weekend at a time when the continent's place in the world appears to be in flux.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Trump, a longtime ally of his Egyptian counterpart, pledged to "get negotiations back on track" between Cairo and Addis Ababa.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

After a failed assassination attempt on the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa that he blamed on the Sudanese government, entering Egypt for most Sudanese meant entering illegally.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John