Capital facts for kids
Capital is a word with several different meanings. It can refer to a very important city, money used for business, the top part of a building column, or even uppercase letters. Let's explore these different uses!
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What Does "Capital" Mean?
The word "capital" comes from the Latin word capitalis, which means "of the head." This gives us a clue about its meanings. Often, it refers to something that is main, chief, or at the top.
Capital City
A capital city is the most important city in a country, state, or region. It's usually where the government meets and makes decisions. Think of it as the "headquarters" for the government.
Why Do Countries Have Capital Cities?
Capital cities are important for many reasons:
- They are where the main government buildings are located. This includes places like the parliament or congress, and the offices of the president or prime minister.
- Leaders from other countries often visit the capital city to meet with the government.
- Many important national events, like parades or celebrations, happen in the capital.
- Sometimes, the capital city is also the largest or most famous city in the area.
Examples of Capital Cities
- The capital city of the United States is Washington, D.C..
- London is the capital of the United Kingdom.
- Paris is the capital of France.
- Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
Capital in Business
In business and economics, capital means the money, assets, or resources that a person or company has. This money or these resources are used to start or grow a business.
What is Business Capital?
Imagine you want to start a small business, like selling lemonade. The money you use to buy lemons, sugar, and cups is your capital. Businesses use capital to:
- Buy equipment and supplies.
- Pay their workers.
- Invest in new projects.
- Expand their operations.
Having enough capital helps a business succeed and grow.
Capital Letters
When you write, you use capital letters (also called uppercase letters). These are the larger versions of letters, like A, B, C, instead of a, b, c.
When Do We Use Capital Letters?
We use capital letters for:
- The first letter of a sentence.
- Proper nouns, which are specific names of people (like Marie Curie), places (like Mount Everest), or things (like Google).
- Days of the week and months of the year.
- Titles of books, movies, and songs.
Capital in Buildings
In architecture, the capital is the top part of a column or pillar. It's often decorated and helps to support the weight of the building above it.
Different Styles of Capitals
Ancient Greek and Roman buildings are famous for their columns with different styles of capitals:
- Doric capitals are simple and plain.
- Ionic capitals have scroll-like shapes.
- Corinthian capitals are very fancy, often decorated with leaves and flowers.
These capitals are important parts of the design and strength of old buildings.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Capital para niños
