Nicosia
/ˌniːkəˈsiːə/noun
The capital and largest city of Cyprus.
Did you know?Nicosia’s name ultimately comes from Greek roots tied to victory, and its medieval form was linked to a saintly name in French and Italian records as rulers kept rebranding the city across centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
Λευκωσία (Leukōsía)
“The older Greek name of the city, traditionally linked to the ancient settlement on the site.”
Hellenistic / Byzantine period
GRK
Νικοσία (Nikosía)
“A later Greek form associated with the city’s medieval name.”
Medieval Latin
LAT
Nicosia
“The city’s name in Latin and Western European records.”
Middle French / Italian
OFr / IT
Nicosie / Nicosia
“The form used by crusader-era and Mediterranean sources.”
Modern English
ENG
Nicosia
“The standard English name of Cyprus’s capital.”