Metro vs Metropolitan Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on metro vs metropolitan. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
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Short form of metropolitan, or a subway system.
“We took the metro downtown.”
Adjective: relating to a large city and its surroundings.
“The metropolitan area has millions of residents.”
Noun: a very large, important city.
“Tokyo is a vast metropolis.”
A common misspelling.
The correct spelling is metropolitan, ending in “-tan.”
The metro vs metropolitan question comes up because the words are closely related and often used in the same places. You might read about a “metro area” in one article and a “metropolitan area” in another. They can mean the same thing, but they are not always interchangeable. Here is how to use each one.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| metro | A short form of metropolitan, as in “metro area” | Adjective (informal short form) | The metro area has grown quickly. |
| metro | An underground or urban rail system | Noun | She takes the metro to work every day. |
| metropolitan | Relating to a large city and its surrounding area | Adjective (also a noun in some religious uses) | The metropolitan region has several airports. |
| metropolis | A very large, important city | Noun | Mumbai is a busy metropolis. |
What does “metropolitan” mean?
Metropolitan is an adjective meaning relating to a large city, often including its suburbs and nearby towns. It is the standard, formal word you will see in news, government reports and business writing.
For example: “The metropolitan population is much larger than the city proper.” It is pronounced met-ruh-POL-ih-tun. It is related to metropolis, which comes from Greek words meaning “mother city.”
What does “metro” mean?
Metro has two main meanings: a short form of metropolitan, and an underground or urban rail system. It is pronounced MET-roh.
As a short adjective, it appears in phrases like “metro area” and “metro police.” As a noun, it means a subway or rapid transit system, as in “the Paris Métro” or “the Washington Metro.”
Why is a subway called a metro?
The word comes from the Paris Métro. Its name is short for the French chemin de fer métropolitain, meaning “metropolitan railway.” Many cities later borrowed the short name for their own rapid transit systems.
Is “metropolitian” a word?
No, metropolitian is a misspelling. The correct word is metropolitan, which ends in “-tan,” not “-tian.” The extra “i” is a common slip, probably because many English words end in “-tian” or “-ian,” such as Christian and Martian.
Metro vs metropolitan: what is the main difference?
The main difference is that metropolitan is the full formal adjective, while metro is a short form that can also be a noun for a transit system. In “metro area” and “metropolitan area,” the two mean the same thing. Only metro can mean a subway.
In formal or official writing, metropolitan is usually the safer choice. In headlines, casual speech and local news, metro is common and perfectly natural.
Is Metro also a brand name?
Yes, when capitalized, Metro is used as a brand or system name in many places. Examples include the Washington Metro rail system and the mobile carrier Metro by T-Mobile. In those cases it is a proper noun, so keep the capital M.
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask yourself two questions. Do you mean a train or subway? If so, use metro. Do you need a formal word for “relating to a big city”? If so, use metropolitan. The memory tricks below help with spelling too.
Common mistakes
- ✗ The metropolitian area is growing fast.
✓ The metropolitan area is growing fast. - ✗ We took the metropolitan to the airport.
✓ We took the metro to the airport. - ✗ Tokyo is a huge metropolitan.
✓ Tokyo is a huge metropolis. - ✗ She lives in the metropoliton region.
✓ She lives in the metropolitan region. - ✗ I took the metropolis to work today.
✓ I took the metro to work today.
Memory tricks
- Short and long: Metro is the short word, and it is the one you ride. Metropolitan is the long, formal word.
- The “-tan” ending: Metropolitan ends in “-tan,” just like cosmopolitan. There is no “i” before the “a.”
- The swap test: Replace the word with “subway.” If it fits, use metro. If “relating to a big city” fits, use metropolitan.
FAQ
Is metro short for metropolitan?
Yes, in many uses. Metro is a clipped form of metropolitan, as in metro area. It also has a separate meaning as the common word for an urban rail or subway system.
How do you spell metropolitan?
The correct spelling is m-e-t-r-o-p-o-l-i-t-a-n. A common misspelling is metropolitian, with an extra i.
Why is a subway called a metro?
The name comes from the Paris Metro, which takes its name from the French chemin de fer métropolitain, meaning metropolitan railway. Many other cities later adopted the short name.
What is a metropolitan area?
A metropolitan area is a large city together with the surrounding towns and suburbs that are closely linked to it. In the United States, the Census Bureau builds metropolitan statistical areas around an urban core of at least 50,000 people.
Is metropolitan the same as metropolis?
No. A metropolis is a noun meaning a very large city. Metropolitan is an adjective meaning relating to such a city and its surrounding area.
Conclusion
Now you know the metro vs metropolitan difference: metropolitan is the full, formal adjective for a big city and its surroundings, while metro is its short form and the everyday word for a subway. Share this with someone who mixes these up.