German Conversation · Level 58
74 words
German word
Mittelmeer
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈmɪtl̩ˌmeːɐ̯/
Meaning
- neuter nounMediterranean
Example
Wir fahren ans Mittelmeer.
We are going to the Mediterranean.
More examples
Im Sommer schwimme ich oft im Mittelmeer.
In summer, I often swim in the Mediterranean.
Core concept
A warm inland sea stretching between three continents, with coastlines surrounding it like a natural border.
Common phrases
ans Mittelmeer fahren
go to the Mediterranean
im Mittelmeer schwimmen
swim in the Mediterranean
das Mittelmeer bereisen
travel around the Mediterranean
Similar words
Meer: A broad expanse of salty water in general.
Ozean: A very large and deep body of salty water.
See: A large lake containing fresh water.
Küste: The strip of land along the sea.
Definition in German
Das Mittelmeer ist das große Binnenmeer des Atlantiks, das von Europa, Afrika und Asien umgeben wird.
Word origin
The compound Mittelmeer combines the inherited German words mittel and Meer, whose older Germanic roots mean 'middle' and 'sea'.
Usage tips
- Movement toward the sea uses an plus the accusative, as in ans Mittelmeer fahren, while location uses an plus the dative, as in am Mittelmeer sein.
Related words
- MittelmeerraumMediterranean regionnoun
- MittelmeerklimaMediterranean climatenoun
- MittelmeerküsteMediterranean coastnoun