Los Angeles (US: /lɔːs ˈændʒələs/ (listen) lawss AN-jəl-əs;[a] Spanish: Los Ángeles [los ˈaŋxeles], lit. 'The Angels'), often referred to by its initials L.A.,[13] is a major city in the U.S. state of California. With a 2020 population of 3,898,747,[8] it is the largest city in the state, as well as the second-largest city in the United States following New York City. Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic and cultural diversity, Hollywood film industry, and sprawling metropolitan area.

The city of Los Angeles lies in a basin in Southern California. Adjacent to the Pacific Ocean extending through the Santa Monica Mountains and into the San Fernando Valley, it covers about 469 square miles (1,210 km2).[7] It is the seat of Los Angeles County, which is the most populous county in the United States with an estimated 9.86 million residents in 2022.[14]xc