Crossword Clue: Lithuanian capital
Here's the answer to the Lithuanian capital crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: VILNIUS
"Lithuanian capital" points to VILNIUS, a 7-letter entry that starts with V and finishes on S and carries 3 vowels. Because every square it occupies also belongs to a down or across answer crossing it, you can often back into VILNIUS from the letters around it rather than the clue alone.
Origin & meaning
Vilnius has one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe. The city is known for its baroque architecture and many churches. It sits at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers.
Common usage
Compact, vowel-friendly answers such as VILNIUS are a constructor's staple: they slot into a 7-square space and play nicely in both directions. Solvers who recognize it on sight save real time on the daily puzzle.
Crossword trivia
Vilnius belongs to the small vocabulary of words that appear constantly in grids. Because it's only 7 letters, editors can drop it almost anywhere, which is why regular solvers know it on sight.
Stuck on this clue?
Stuck on "Lithuanian capital"? Don't force it — solve the clues crossing this slot instead. One or two intersecting letters usually make VILNIUS obvious. Working from the crossings is the single most useful habit for getting faster.
This clue in different puzzles
Setters vary how they clue VILNIUS — 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
- "Vilnius is the kind of answer that clicks the moment you spot one letter."
- "Seeing 'Lithuanian capital' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in VILNIUS almost immediately."
- "Once the V was confirmed by the crossing word, VILNIUS was the only entry that fit."