Do you capitalize the word nation in phrase capital?

You do not capitalize "nation" in the phrase "capital nation."

Here's why:

* "Nation" is a common noun: It refers to a general group of people living in a defined territory. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they are the first word in a sentence or part of a proper noun.

* "Capital" is an adjective: It describes the nation. Adjectives are not typically capitalized.

Example:

* "The capital nation of France is Paris."

Note: If you were referring to a specific nation, you would capitalize it:

* "The United States is a powerful nation."