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Meaning & use

Cali

proper noun·EverydayinformalslangAmerican

Last updated

UK/ˈkæli/
US/ˈkæli/

Meanings

  1. proper nounproperinformalslangAmerican

    A casual nickname for the U.S. state of California.

    Grammar: Used without 'the' and written with a capital: I moved to Cali.

    Patterns

    • move to Cali
    • out in Cali

    She moved to Cali for the sunshine and the music scene.

    My cousins in Cali sent us pictures of the beach.

    We are driving up the coast of Cali next summer.

  2. proper nounproper

    A large city in the south-west of Colombia, known for salsa music and dancing.

    Grammar: Pronounced with a long second sound in many speakers' English: Cali is hot in the afternoons.

    Patterns

    • in Cali
    • from Cali

    Cali is known as the salsa capital of the world.

    He grew up in Cali before moving abroad for university.

    Flights from Bogotá to Cali take about an hour.

Common combinations

move to Cali
They moved to Cali after college.
Cali weather
Cali weather is usually mild all year.
Cali vibes
The cafe has relaxed Cali vibes.
out in Cali
My brother lives out in Cali now.
salsa in Cali
We learned to dance salsa in Cali.

Synonyms and how they differ

California
California is the full, neutral name and the right choice in formal writing.
the Golden State
The Golden State is an official nickname used in more formal or promotional writing.
SoCal
SoCal is another informal abbreviation, but it refers only to Southern California.
NorCal
NorCal refers only to Northern California, so it is narrower than Cali.

Word family

California proper noun
the full name of the state
Californian adjective
relating to California or a person from it
Californian noun
a person from California
Caleño noun
a person from Cali, Colombia

Commonly confused: Cali or Kali? Cali or Cal?

Cali vs Kali

Kali is a Hindu goddess, and the name is spelled with a K, so it is unrelated to California or Colombia.

Cali vs Cal

Cal is a shorter nickname often used for the University of California, Berkeley, as well as for the state.

Practice

My friend said she was moving to Cali for work. In casual American speech, where is she going?

Make it your own

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