Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia, and also its largest city and main port, on the Indian Ocean. Somali speakers also call it Xamar. It has long been a trading city, looking out toward Arabia and the wider ocean. In English news you will hear it as Somalia’s government city and port. Though actually, the origin of the name is not settled. One idea is a Somali pairing of muuq (“appearance”) with a form of dil (“to beat / kill”). Another is that it was borrowed from Arabic maqadīšū, from Persian words for “seat” and “shah” (king), so “seat of the shah.” Scholars do not agree, so neither story should be told as fact. In English, spell it Mogadishu; older books sometimes use an Italian-looking Mogadiscio.