Kolkata

American  

[kol-kah-tuh] / kɒlˈkɑ tə /

noun

1. a seaport in and the capital of West Bengal state, in eastern India, on the Hugli River: former capital of British India.

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Kolkata British  

/ ˈkolkɑːtə /

noun

1. Former official name: Calcutta.  a port in E India, capital of West Bengal state, on the Hooghly River: former capital of the country (1833–1912); major commercial and industrial centre; many universities. Pop: 4 580 544 (2001)

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Example Sentences

The cosmopolitan Chakrabarti, 60, was born in Kolkata and came to the U.S. with his family at age 2.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Rubio, a devout Catholic, began his four-day, four-city tour by touring the headquarters of Mother Teresa's charity in the eastern city of Kolkata and praying over her tomb.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

In addition to New Delhi, he will visit Agra, site of the world-famous Taj Mahal, as well as the palace-filled city of Jaipur and the eastern metropolis of Kolkata.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Last week, the BJP's state President Samik Bhattacharya offered journalists in Kolkata an invitation for results day on 4 May - when, he said, the party would welcome them with fried fish.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

“I’m glad. You’d have to study in Kolkata for years, and then you’d probably get a job there, or somewhere else far away.”

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins