Search Dictionary
Definition of kolkata
kolkata
/kɒlˈkɑːtə/
Kol · ka · ta
Adjective:Kolkatan
kolkata Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
The capital city of the Indian state of West Bengal, located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. It serves as a major commercial, cultural, and educational hub for Eastern India.
Example
"Known as the "City of Joy," Kolkata is renowned for its grand colonial architecture and the vibrant, annual Durga Puja festival."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for kolkataWord Nuance & Usage
The city's official English name was changed from 'Calcutta' to 'Kolkata' in 2001 to align with its traditional Bengali pronunciation.
• Rhymes for kolkata
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Bengali word 'Kalikata', the name of one of the three original villages that formed the city. It is widely believed to originate from 'Kalikshetra', meaning 'Land of the goddess Kali'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kolkata. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kolkata