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Definition of kyiv
kyiv
/ˈkiː.ɪv/
Ky · iv
Adjective:Kyivan
kyiv Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
The capital and most populous city of Ukraine, located in the north-central part of the country along the Dnieper River.
Example
"The international delegation traveled to Kyiv to discuss security cooperation with the Ukrainian government."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for kyivWord Nuance & Usage
The spelling 'Kyiv' (transliterated from Ukrainian) is the standard and officially preferred name, replacing the older 'Kiev' (derived from Russian) to reflect Ukraine's linguistic identity and sovereignty.
Word Origin & Etymology
From Ukrainian Київ (Kyiv), traditionally named after Kyi, who, according to the Primary Chronicle, was the eldest of the legendary founding brothers of the city.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kyiv. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kyiv