What does valencia mean?
Valencia most often denotes a major city in eastern Spain, situated on the Turia River and serving as the capital of the Valencian Community. The name is also used for the surrounding province, the wider regional and historical identity, and the former Kingdom of Valencia. These proper-noun senses are far more common in present-day English than the word’s older common-noun meanings. A valencia was a sweet orange associated with Spanish citrus cultivation and is now normally called a Valencia orange, although the shortened form remains in dictionaries. Much less frequently, valencia denotes a Spanish dueling sword distinguished by its broad blade and protective hilt. The word is therefore unusually versatile: it identifies a place, a fruit, and a weapon while also linking the fruit and sword to Valencia’s Spanish associations. A person or thing from Valencia may be described as Valencian, a form that also has its own cultural and linguistic associations with the region.
nounValencia is a city in eastern Spain and the capital of the Valencian Community; the name can also refer to the surrounding province, region, or the former Kingdom of Valencia. As a common noun, a valencia is a type of sweet orange originally grown in Spain or, less commonly, a Spanish dueling sword with a broad, tapering blade.
- The capital city of the Valencian Community in eastern Spain.
- The province, autonomous community, and historical region surrounding the city.
- A sweet orange of a variety originally cultivated in Valencia, Spain.
- A Spanish dueling sword characterized by a broad, tapering blade and a hand-protecting hilt.
"After crossing the old bridges of Valencia, we stopped at a market stall to buy a Valencia orange."
"The old town of Valencia is known for its market, cathedral, and distinctive blend of Gothic and modernist architecture."
"The recipe calls for the juice of a Valencia orange, which adds sweetness without excessive acidity."
The plural is used for individual oranges of the Valencia variety; place-name usage is normally unchanged.
"She peeled two valencias and arranged the slices on a plate."
Valencia gave its name not only to a celebrated Spanish city and a familiar orange, but also to a distinctly Spanish dueling sword.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of valencia
The place-name comes through Latin Valentia, the name of an ancient Roman settlement in Spain, itself based on Valentia, a feminine personal name derived from valere, “to be strong.” English words such as valiant, valour, value, and Valentinian are connected with the same Latin root. The fruit and sword senses developed later and were named for their association with Valencia and Spain.
Related word forms
How valencia is actually used
The city, province, and region are normally capitalized. The standalone lowercase form is uncommon today and is chiefly associated with British English; most contemporary speakers use the compound “Valencia orange” for the fruit.
Easily confused with valencia
Valencia is the place-name and the older standalone term for the citrus variety, while Valencia orange is the standard modern compound naming the fruit.