Capital vs. Capitol: What’s the Difference?

Capital and capitol are homophones — they sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.

Here’s the simple rule:

• Capital = a city, money, or something important.
• Capitol = a building where lawmakers meet.

Let’s look closer at how they differ.

Capital: A City, Money, or Importance

Meaning

“Capital” is the more common word. It has multiple meanings, depending on context:

1. A city that serves as the seat of government.
2. Money or assets used for investment.
3. Something important, serious, or excellent.
4. Uppercase letters in writing.

Examples (10 total)

1. Beijing is the capital of China.
2. Washington, D.C., is the capital of the United States.
3. The company raised new capital for expansion.
4. He invested capital in a startup.
5. Paris is known as the fashion capital of the world.
6. Writing names requires capital letters.
7. Murder is considered a capital crime.
8. She moved to the capital to find a better job.
9. The firm needs capital to launch its new product.
10. That’s a capital idea! (means “great idea!”)

🧠 Tip:
If you’re talking about cities, money, or importance, it’s capital.

Capitol: A Building Where Lawmakers Meet

Meaning

“Capitol” refers only to a building — specifically one where a legislature meets.
It’s most often used when talking about the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., or state capitol buildings in the U.S.

Examples (10 total)

1. The U.S. Capitol is located in Washington, D.C.
2. Tourists visited the Capitol during their trip.
3. Lawmakers gathered at the Capitol to debate the bill.
4. Security was increased around the Capitol.
5. The Texas State Capitol is in Austin.
6. Students toured the Capitol to learn about government.
7. The Capitol dome is a famous landmark.
8. The protest took place outside the Capitol building.
9. The Capitol represents democracy in the U.S.
10. Photographers captured the sunset over the Capitol.

🧠 Tip:
If you mean a government building, spell it with an “o” — Capitol.

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Capital = Many meanings — city, money, importance.
👉 Capitol = One specific meaning — a government building.

💡 Memory Trick:

The CapitOl is a building with a dOme — both have “O.”

Common Mistakes

❌ The nation’s capitol is Washington, D.C.
✅ The nation’s capital is Washington, D.C.

❌ The capital building was beautiful.
✅ The Capitol building was beautiful.

Why It’s Easy to Mix Them Up

Both words come from the Latin caput, meaning “head,” and sound identical when spoken.
But they evolved differently — capital became broader (city, money, importance), while capitol kept its architectural meaning.
Even AI tools may mix them, which is why Humanizey helps refine word choice for context and clarity automatically.

FAQs

1. Is “Capitol” ever capitalized?

Yes, when referring to the specific building (the U.S. Capitol). Otherwise, use lowercase (the state capitol).

2. Can “capital” ever mean building?

No. “Capital” never refers to a building — only “Capitol” does.

3. What’s the capital of the U.S.?

The capital city is Washington, D.C., and the Capitol building is located there.

4. How do I remember which is which?

Think: “The CapitOl has a dOme.” The “O” helps you link it to the building.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Capital” or “Capitol”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The president works in the nation’s ___.
2. The company raised new ___ to expand its business.
3. The ___ of Japan is Tokyo.
4. We toured the Texas State ___.
5. Always begin a sentence with a ___ letter.
6. Lawmakers met at the ___ to discuss the new law.
7. Paris is the fashion ___.
8. The protestors gathered outside the ___.
9. Murder is a ___ crime in many states.
10. The U.S. ___ is located in Washington, D.C.

Answers

1. capital
2. capital
3. capital
4. Capitol
5. capital
6. Capitol
7. capital
8. Capitol
9. capital
10. Capitol