Pronunciation: [vˈatɪkən] (IPA) 
The word Vatican is spelled with five letters: v-a-t-i-c-a-n. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is [ˈvætɪkən]. This word has two syllables - VAT and I-CAN. The first syllable "VAT" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, and the second syllable "I-CAN" is pronounced with a long "i" and an unstressed "ən" at the end. The word Vatican refers to the city-state in Rome that is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
Vatican (noun) refers to the independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. It serves as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, with the Pope as its sovereign. The name "Vatican" is derived from the Vatican Hill, the geographical location where it stands.
The Vatican is home to some of the most renowned religious and cultural sites in the world, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. It encompasses a relatively small area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres) and has a population of approximately 1,000 inhabitants. Although geographically within Italy, the Vatican maintains independence in terms of sovereignty, with its own legal system, currency, and diplomatic relations.
The Vatican plays a significant role in global Catholicism since it is the central governing body for the Roman Catholic Church. As the residence of the Pope, it serves as the seat of authority for religious doctrine and decision-making within the Catholic faith. Over the centuries, the Vatican has been a place of pilgrimage for millions of Catholics seeking spiritual guidance and connection to their faith.
Beyond its religious functions, the term "Vatican" can also be used figuratively to refer to the Roman Catholic Church or its hierarchical structure. The Holy See, another term frequently associated with the Vatican, represents the central government of the Catholic Church and the Pope's diplomatic representation on the global stage.
In Rome, an assemblage of magnificent buildings, including one of the Pope's palaces, and adjoining the church of St Peter; the papal authority.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Vatican" comes from the Latin "Vaticanus Mons", which means "Vatican Hill" or "Mount Vatican". The term originally referred to a hill located northwest of the Tiber River in Rome, Italy, on which the Vatican City State is now situated. The Latin term "vaticanus" itself is believed to stem from the Etruscan language, an ancient pre-Roman civilization of Italy. However, the exact origin and meaning of the Etruscan term remain uncertain. Overall, the word "Vatican" has primarily been associated with the Papal residence and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church since the early centuries of Christianity.
