Rome
/roʊm/noun
The capital city of Italy and, historically, the center of the ancient Roman Empire.
Did you know?The name Rome is ancient and uncertain in origin: despite later myths tying it to Romulus, scholars do not accept a secure etymology, which makes it one of history’s most famous names with no confirmed linguistic root.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Roman period
Latin
Roma
“The city of Rome”
Classical Antiquity
Latin
Romanus
“Of or belonging to Rome; Roman”
Late Latin
Latin
romanice
“In the Roman way; in the vernacular language”
Old French
Old French
romanz
“A work written in the vernacular; a tale or romance”
Modern English
English
Rome
“The capital city of Italy”