Los Angeles is a city in Southern California.
Los Angeles ( [ lɒs_ˈændʒəlᵻs ] , Spanish for `` The Angels '' ; [ los ˈaŋxeles ] ) , officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A. , is the cultural , financial , and commercial center of Southern California . Los Angeles County , officially the County of Los Angeles , is the most populous county in the United States . The county is home to more than one-quarter of California residents and is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the U.S. Its county seat , the City of Los Angeles , is also its most populous city at about four million . Southern California . The Los Angeles area has over 12 million inhabitants , while the Riverside-San Bernardino area has over 4 million inhabitants and the San Diego area has over 3 million inhabitants .