noun

la mer

sea

Grande étendue d’eau salée qui couvre une partie de la surface de la Terre.

The French word "mer" means "sea" in English.

Meaning:

  • Mer refers to a large body of salt water smaller than an ocean, which is often partly enclosed by land.
  • It can also mean the sea in a general or poetic sense, representing the vast water that covers most of the Earth's surface.

Parts:

  • The word is a simple noun, feminine gender in French: la mer.

Synonyms:

  • océan (ocean) — although usually larger than a sea.
  • étendue d'eau (body of water) — a more general term but can include seas.
  • la grande bleue — a poetic way to refer to the sea, often specifically the Mediterranean Sea.

Antonyms:

  • There is no direct antonym, but related opposites could be la terre (land) or le désert (desert), representing dry areas instead of water.

Usage example:

  • La mer est très agitée aujourd'hui.
    (The sea is very rough today.)

The word is fundamental in French vocabulary for describing geography and nature.

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Examples

Nous allons admirer la mer cet été.noun

We are going to admire the sea this summer.

Elle regarde la mer.noun

She is looking at the sea.

On peut voir la mer ici.noun

One can see the sea here.

Marie voit la mer.noun

Marie sees the sea.

La mer est bleue aujourd'hui.noun

The sea is blue today.

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