Meaning & use
Vegas
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproperinformal
A short informal name for Las Vegas, a city in the US state of Nevada that is famous for its casinos and entertainment.
Grammar: Used like a name, so it takes no article: 'I went to Vegas,' not 'the Vegas.'
Patterns
- go to Vegas
- in Vegas
- Vegas trip
They spent the weekend in Vegas and saw two shows.
My cousin got married in Vegas last summer.
Vegas is known for its bright lights and huge hotels.
proper nounbefore a nouninformal
Used before another noun to describe things connected with Las Vegas, especially its style or entertainment industry.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: 'a Vegas show,' 'Vegas prices.'
Patterns
- Vegas show
- Vegas hotel
- Vegas style
She booked a Vegas show for their anniversary.
The Vegas strip is full of neon signs.
He loves that old Vegas style of music.
Common combinations
- go to Vegas
- We usually go to Vegas for a few days in winter.
- in Vegas
- There are always big conferences in Vegas.
- Vegas trip
- They planned a Vegas trip to celebrate his birthday.
- Vegas show
- The Vegas show was sold out for weeks.
- Las Vegas
- The full name is Las Vegas, but most people just say Vegas.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Las Vegas
- The full official name; use it in formal writing or when you need to be precise.
- Sin City
- A nickname for Las Vegas that hints at its wild nightlife; it is informal and often humorous.
Commonly confused: Vegas or Vega?
Vegas vs Vega
Vega is the name of a bright star; Vegas is the city. They sound similar but are different words.
Practice
Which sentence uses Vegas correctly?
Choose one answer.
Vegas is a proper noun used without an article, so 'I went to Vegas' is correct. 'The Vegas' and 'a Vegas' are wrong because proper nouns do not take articles in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Vegas”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.