While historians commonly use the term "Vijayanagara Empire" to describe the kingdom, contemporaries, particularly during the period of its height, referred to it as the "Karnataka Samrajyamu." The word Samrajyamu translates to "empire" in Telugu, highlighting the territorial and political nature of the kingdom in the eyes of its people. Hampi, while important, was not used to describe the empire itself, and Nagara typically refers to a city or town.