Winnipeg (pronounced /ˈwɪnɨpɛɡ/) is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, in south central Canada, near the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers (a point now commonly known as The Forks). Winnipeg is the primary municipality in the Winnipeg Capital Region, which is home to more than sixty percent of Manitoba's population.

The name Winnipeg comes from the Cree words meaning muddy water, referring to Lake Winnipeg 40 miles (60 kilometres) to the north. The Winnipeg area was a trading centre for Aboriginal peoples (First Nations and Métis) prior to the arrival of Europeans. The first fort was built near the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in 1738 by French traders.

A settlement was later founded by the Selkirk settlers in 1812, the nucleus of which was incorporated as the City of Winnipeg in 1873. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Winnipeg was one of the fastest growing cities in North America and established itself as a transportation and manufacturing centre. The Winnipeg Metropolitan area is Canada's 8th largest Census Metropolitan Area, with 694,668 inhabitants (739,000 including the capital region), and the City of Winnipeg is Canada's 7th largest municipality (as of the 2006 Census).

Winnipeg is a multicultural city and hosts numerous annual festivals. The city is known for its urban forest and parks and is the location of the famous Portage and Main intersection. It lies in close proximity to the Canadian Shield and hundreds of lakes including Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba.

The City has a number of artistic and cultural organizations, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and is home to several professional sports franchises. It is home to the University of Manitoba which is the largest university in the Province. The City is a national railway hub and transportation centre and is served by Richardson International Airport.

A resident of Winnipeg is known as a Winnipegger.

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