Crossword Clue: Capital of Peru
Here's the answer to the Capital of Peru crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: LIMA
LIMA solves the clue "Capital of Peru". Spanning 4 letters (2 vowels, 2 consonants), it begins at L and ends at A. Like most crossword fill, it lives at the intersection of two words, so a single confirmed crossing letter frequently reveals the whole entry.
Origin & meaning
Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the City of Kings. It sits on the arid Pacific coast and is one of the largest desert cities on Earth. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Common usage
Lima turns up often in crosswords because of that letter mix. Words like LIMA interlock cleanly with longer entries, so constructors reach for them to make a grid fit together without awkward clashes. Given a 4-square slot and a crossing letter or two, it's usually quick to confirm.
Crossword trivia
At 4 letters, LIMA shows up in daily mini and themed puzzles far more than longer, obscure words. It's the kind of entry worth memorizing — the more common short words you know cold, the faster you solve.
Stuck on this clue?
If this clue won't come, leave it and fill the answers that cross it. Once a couple of LIMA's letters are locked by neighboring words, the entry tends to reveal itself. Crossings beat staring at a clue every time.
This clue in different puzzles
Setters vary how they clue LIMA — sometimes with a straight dictionary definition, sometimes with wordplay, a pun, or a fill-in-the-blank — but the answer itself stays the same. Learning to spot the answer behind the disguise is a core crossword skill.
Example sentences
- "Seeing 'Capital of Peru' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in LIMA almost immediately."
- "Once the L was confirmed by the crossing word, LIMA was the only entry that fit."
- "A 4-letter slot and a clue like 'Capital of Peru'? That's LIMA nine times out of ten."