Cahul is a city and an administrative region in the south of Moldova. The city of Cahul is believed to have been inhabited for many centuries, although it has had a number of different names over the years - the name Scheia was recorded in 1502, and the name Formoza was recorded in 1716.

The city's location had made it a frequent battleground for a number of armies, with possession of frequently switching between countries such as Moldavia, Russia, Turkey. The city was considered part of Russia from 1812 to 1856, then Moldavia (1856-1878), then Russia again (1878-1920), then Romania (1920-1940), then the Soviet Union (1940-1991), and finally Moldova (1991 to the present).

Besides the battles that have been fought over it, Cahul is also known for its thermal spas and for its folk music.