newyork.localmean.com/five-boroughs
The five boroughs
thuh FIVE BUR-ohz
Local meaning
The five major administrative and geographic divisions of New York City: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Each borough is also associated with a New York State county: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond counties. In local speech, the phrase emphasizes the city as more than Manhattan and often appears in government, media, business, and cultural coverage.
Example in context
- “The festival will hold events in all five boroughs.”
How it is used
Official and everyday language for the full territorial structure of New York City.
neutral, civic, geographic
government, news, travel, citywide programs
Official and everyday language for the full territorial structure of New York City.
Do not use five boroughs as shorthand for five interchangeable experiences; each borough contains many distinct neighborhoods and communities.
Spelling and scope
Official and everyday language for the full territorial structure of New York City.
- Search forms
five boroughs meaningwhat are the five boroughs NYCNYC five boroughs list
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
What are New York City’s five boroughs?
They are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Is each borough also a county?
Yes. Each borough corresponds to a New York State county, although borough and county names differ in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- New York City CountiesNYC311
Official explanation that New York City consists of five boroughs, each corresponding to a New York State county.
- NYC Web Content Style GuideNYC Digital Design System
Official city language guidance for New York City, New Yorkers, the Bronx, the five boroughs, and the Big Apple.