Cairo

American  

[kahy-roh] / ˈkaɪ roʊ /

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Egypt, in the N part on the E bank of the Nile.

---

Cairo British  

/ ˈkaɪrəʊ /

noun

1. Arabic name: El Qahira.  the capital of Egypt, on the Nile: the largest city in Africa and in the Middle East; industrial centre; site of the university and mosque of Al Azhar (founded in 972). Pop: 11 146 000 (2005 est)

---

Cairo Cultural  

1. The capital of Egypt (see also Egypt) and largest city in the country; a major port just south of the Nile Delta in the northeast corner of Africa.

---

Discover More

Cairo, the historical center of Egyptian power, was the home of the pharaohs. The pyramids and the Sphinx are located nearby in suburban Giza, also known as Al Jizah.

Other Word Forms

• Cairene noun

Example Sentences

A Hamas delegation in Cairo was due to meet Egypt's intelligence chief on Tuesday before departing.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Egypt, though not directly involved in the war, has contended with its repercussions on energy, fertilizer and food prices, not to mention disruptions to shipping income Cairo receives through the Suez Canal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Michael, 53 years old, was born in Cairo and grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y., where he attended public school.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

"We were barely getting by as it is. I don't know how people will manage," she told AFP at a Cairo market.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

She had been raised by a German family in Cairo, Illinois, and had come to St. Louis at the turn of the century to study nursing.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou