French word

mer

Pronunciation

IPA/mɛʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsea

Example

Nous allons à la mer demain.

We are going to the sea tomorrow.

Illustration for mer (sea)

More examples

La mer est très calme ce matin.

The sea is very calm this morning.

Core concept

The open salt-water world beyond the coast, reached where land gives way to the horizon.

Common phrases

  • aller à la mer

    go to the sea

  • au bord de la mer

    by the sea

  • se baigner dans la mer

    swim in the sea

Similar words

plage: A strip of sand or pebbles along the sea for recreation and sunbathing.
bord de mer: A place immediately beside the sea, including coastal towns and roads.
océan: A vast, deep body of salt water spanning countries or continents.

Definition in French

Étendue d'eau salée, généralement vaste, bordée par des côtes ou ouverte sur l'océan.

Word origin

French mer comes from Latin mare through Old French, preserving a root also found in Spanish mar and Italian mare.

Usage tips

  • Aller à la mer usually means going to the seaside, while aller à la plage specifically means going to the beach.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word