What does mer in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word mer in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use mer in French.

The word mer in French means sea, seaside, coast, sea, by the sea, sea eagle, stingray, sea air, go to the sea, go on a field trip to the seaside, dog cockle, sea anemone, angel shark, sea eel, marine eel, spider crab, at the seaside, by the seaside, below sea level, above sea level, be seasick, Baffin Bay, sea bathing, sea biscuit, ship's biscuit, hardtack, seashore, message in a bottle, cry for help, message in a bottle, sound, sound, sea breeze, it's a drop in the ocean, it's not asking the impossible, it's not asking that much, dogfish, slipper lobster, school trip to the seaside, sea cucumber, razor clam, overseas territory, overseas department, make seasick, cause seasickness, seawater, meerschaum, sea elephant, elephant seal, by the sea, seaside, to sea, out at sea, between heaven and the bright blue sea, sea sponge, winkle, periwinkle, starfish, sea star, perils of the sea, French Overseas Territories, seafront, seafood, rough sea, sea thong, thongweed, sea spaghetti, high seas, seafront hotel, hotel with sea views, low tide, wrack, wrack, tide wrack, sea-wrack, send out an SOS, sea slug, sea lion, sea bass, seasoned sailor, sea otter, seasickness, the Adriatic Sea, the Adriatic, rough sea, choppy sea, Baltic, Baltic Sea, the Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, calm sea, Irish Sea, South China Sea, Coral Sea, Mer de Glace, raging sea, Caribbean Sea, Caribbean Sea, Sargasso Sea, North Sea, the Aegean Sea, inland sea, enclosed sea, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea, the Black Sea, Red Sea, territorial waters, Tyrrhenian Sea, sea level, seabird, sea bird, overseas, overseas, fish on the open seas, sea permit, parrot fish, puffin, common puffin, Atlantic puffin, platter of seafood, open sea, go to sea, seafood, sea grape. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word mer

sea

nom féminin (grande étendue d'eau salée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faisait tellement mauvais ce jour-là que la mer semblait grise.
It was so nasty out that day that the sea seemed gray.

seaside, coast

nom féminin (région côtière)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Petits, nous allions toujours en vacances à la mer.
When we were little, we always went to the seaside on vacation.

sea

nom féminin (figuré (vaste étendue) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le désert, c'est une mer de sable !
The desert is a sea of sand!

by the sea

locution adverbiale (au bord de la mer)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Anne préfère aller en vacances à la mer plutôt qu'à la campagne.

sea eagle

nom masculin (race de pycargue) (bird)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

stingray

nom masculin (race de raie) (fish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea air

nom masculin (atmosphère maritime)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

go to the sea

locution verbale (partie en bord de mer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

go on a field trip to the seaside

locution verbale (partir en sortie scolaire en bord de mer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les enfants vont en classe de mer, ils vont apprendre à faire de la voile.

dog cockle

nom féminin (coquillage bivalve) (mollusk)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea anemone

nom féminin (animal aquatique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Dans cet aquarium, il y a des anémones de mer.

angel shark

nom masculin (variété de requin) (fish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea eel, marine eel

nom féminin (anguille d'eau salée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

spider crab

nom féminin (type de crustacé) (crustacean)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

at the seaside, by the seaside

locution adverbiale (sur les côtes) (UK)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Nous passerons l'été au bord de la mer.
We will spend the summer at the seaside.

below sea level

locution adverbiale (plus bas que l'altitude 0)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Les ruines de cette ville antique sont au-dessous du niveau de la mer.

above sea level

locution adverbiale (plus haut que l'altitude 0)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

be seasick

locution verbale (être malade en bateau)

Baffin Bay

nom propre féminin (mer de l'océan Arctique) (sea)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer de Baffin se trouve au sud-ouest du Groenland.

sea bathing

nom masculin (baignade) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les premiers bains de mer étaient à but thérapeutique.
In its early days, sea bathing was undertaken for therapeutic reasons.

sea biscuit, ship's biscuit, hardtack

nom masculin (pain sec de marin)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le biscuit de mer est impossible à mâcher, il faut l'humidifier avant d'essayer de le consommer.

seashore

nom masculin (terre jouxtant la mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le bord de mer est couvert de galets.
The seashore is covered with pebbles.

message in a bottle

nom féminin (appel à l'aide de naufragé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les naufragés ont jeté une bouteille à la mer en espérant qu'un navire la récupère.

cry for help

nom féminin (figuré (appel désespéré) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cet acte désespéré est une bouteille à la mer pour qu'on s'intéresse à lui.

message in a bottle

nom féminin (figuré (jeu de piste de messages) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est en participant à un jeu de bouteille à la mer que nous avons rencontré ces amis.

sound

nom masculin (chenal, détroit) (sea)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sound

nom masculin (mer étirée entre deux côtes) (sea)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea breeze

nom féminin (vent venant de la mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La brise de mer atténuait la chaleur ambiante.

it's a drop in the ocean

(figuré (c'est négligeable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cette mesure ridicule est une goutte d'eau dans la mer.

it's not asking the impossible, it's not asking that much

(familier (ce n'est pas si difficile, long)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

dogfish

nom masculin (requin) (shark)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

slipper lobster

nom féminin (crustacé comestible) (crustacean: common name)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La cigale de mer est de la même famille que le homard ou la langouste.

school trip to the seaside

nom féminin (séjour scolaire maritime)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les enfants vont en classe de mer, ils vont apprendre à faire de la voile.

sea cucumber

nom masculin (petit animal marin oblong)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

razor clam

nom masculin (coquillage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce soir, nous mangerons une poêlée de couteaux de mer.

overseas territory, overseas department

nom masculin (département non métropolitain)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La Réunion est un département d'outre-mer.

make seasick, cause seasickness

locution verbale (rendre malade sur l'eau)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

seawater

nom féminin (eau salée issue de la mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'eau de mer a une meilleure portance que l'eau douce.

meerschaum

nom féminin (silicate de magnésium naturel)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'écume de mer, minéral de couleur blanche, flotte.

sea elephant, elephant seal

nom masculin (morse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

by the sea

locution adverbiale (sur le rivage)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
On trouve la mouette rieuse en bord de mer.

seaside

locution adverbiale (dans une ville du littoral)

(noun as adjective: Describes another noun--for example, "boat race," "dogfood.")
Nous avons acheté une maison secondaire en bord de mer.

to sea

locution adverbiale (sur l'eau, loin du rivage)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
À cette saison, les hommes sont partis en mer.

out at sea

locution adverbiale (en haute mer)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

between heaven and the bright blue sea

locution adjectivale (dans l'air)

sea sponge

nom féminin (animal marin invertébré)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

winkle, periwinkle

nom féminin (bigorneau) (mollusk: common name)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

starfish, sea star

nom féminin (animal aquatique : astéride)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les enfants ont trouvé une étoile de mer sur la plage.
The children found a starfish on the beach.

perils of the sea

nom féminin (risques de navigation)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Les assurances maritimes prennent en compte des fortunes de mer.

French Overseas Territories

nom propre féminin (territoires français hors métropole)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La France d'outre-mer bénéficie d'une chaîne de télévision dédiée.

seafront

nom masculin (zone côtière)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

seafood

nom masculin (coquillage ou crustacé) (shellfish, etc.)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il aime la pizza aux fruits de mer.
He likes seafood pizza.

rough sea

nom féminin (mer agitée par le mauvais temps) (often plural)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les pêcheurs ne sortent pas par grosse mer.
Fishermen don't go out in rough seas.

sea thong, thongweed, sea spaghetti

nom masculin (type d'algue brune) (seaweed)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

high seas

nom féminin (eaux internationales)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Les caboteurs ne sont pas faits pour la haute mer.
Coasters are not built for the high seas.

seafront hotel, hotel with sea views

nom masculin (hôtel avec vue sur la mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

low tide

nom féminin (limite basse de marée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

wrack

nom féminin (accumulation de débris due aux marées)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La laisse de haute mer marque la limite entre terre et mer.

wrack, tide wrack, sea-wrack

nom féminin (débris laissés par la mer sur la plage) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

send out an SOS

locution verbale (figuré (appeler au secours) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

sea slug

nom féminin (mollusque) (marine mollusk)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea lion

nom masculin (phoque) (sea mammal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea bass

nom masculin (poisson : bar)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le poissonnier prépare un étal de loups de mer.

seasoned sailor

nom masculin (marin chevronné)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le capitaine Haddock est un vrai loup de mer.

sea otter

nom féminin (grande loutre vivant en mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

seasickness

nom masculin (malaise dû aux mouvements du bateau)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the Adriatic Sea, the Adriatic

nom propre féminin (partie de la mer Méditerranée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer Adriatique est une mer séparant la péninsule italienne de la péninsule balkanique.

rough sea, choppy sea

nom féminin (mer non calme)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Baltic, Baltic Sea

nom propre féminin (mer d'Europe du nord)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the Caspian Sea

nom propre féminin (mer intérieure en Eurasie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Aral Sea

nom propre féminin (lac d'Asie) (historical lake)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

calm sea

nom féminin (figuré (mer calme)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Irish Sea

nom propre féminin (mer au nord-ouest de l'Europe)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer d'Irlande sépare l'Irlande, à l'Ouest, de la Grande-Bretagne, à l'Est.

South China Sea

nom féminin (mer de l’océan Pacifique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il y a encore des pirates dans la mer de Chine méridionale.

Coral Sea

nom propre féminin (mer située en Australie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer de Corail est nommée ainsi en raison de sa principale caractéristique, la grande barrière de corail, qui est le plus grand récif corallien du monde.

Mer de Glace

nom propre féminin (glacier des Alpes) (glacier, French)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La Mer de glace est en fait un glacier alpin du Mont Blanc.

raging sea

nom féminin (mer très agitée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Caribbean Sea

nom propre féminin (mer de l'océan Atlantique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer des Antilles est située à l'Est de l'Amérique centrale et au Sud-Est du golfe du Mexique.

Caribbean Sea

nom propre féminin (mer des Antilles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est Cuba, dans la mer des Caraïbes, que Christophe Colomb découvrit lors de son premier voyage.

Sargasso Sea

nom propre féminin (zone de l'océan Atlantique nord)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer des Sargasses doit son nom à des algues.

North Sea

nom propre féminin (mer européenne)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer du Nord est située au Nord-Ouest de l'Europe.

the Aegean Sea

nom propre féminin (mer intérieure entre Grèce et Turquie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La Crète se trouve dans le Sud de la mer Égée.

inland sea, enclosed sea

nom féminin (mer fermée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ionian Sea

nom propre féminin (partie de la mer Méditerranée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer Ionienne sépare l'Italie de la Grèce.

Mediterranean Sea

nom propre féminin (mer du Sud de l'Europe)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer Méditerranée borde le Sud de la France.

the Dead Sea

nom propre féminin (lac salé du Proche-Orient)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer morte est tellement salée qu'on n'y trouve pas de poissons.

the Black Sea

nom féminin invariable (mer située entre l’Europe et l’Anatolie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Yalta se trouve sur les bords de la mer Noire.

Red Sea

nom propre féminin (mer entre Afrique et Moyen-Orient)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

territorial waters

nom féminin (territoire côtier d'un État) (of a state)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
La largeur maximale de la mer territoriale est fixée à 12 milles marins (soit 22 224 mètres).

Tyrrhenian Sea

nom propre féminin (partie de la mer Méditerranée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La mer Tyrrhénienne sépare la Sardaigne de la botte italienne.

sea level

nom masculin (hauteur moyenne de la surface de la mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Par temps calme, le niveau de la mer ne bouge pas.

seabird, sea bird

nom masculin (oiseau marin)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

overseas

adverbe (au-delà des mers)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Outre-mer, les violences continuent.
Overseas, the violence continues.

overseas

locution adjectivale (d'au-delà des mers)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
La Martinique est un département d'outre-mer.
Martinique is a French overseas department.

fish on the open seas

locution verbale (pêcher au large)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les navires hauturiers pêchent en haute mer.

sea permit

nom masculin (autorisation de naviguer en mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Comme Pierre a eu son permis mer, il pourra nous emmener faire le tour de l'île.

parrot fish

nom masculin (poisson : scare) (fish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

puffin, common puffin, Atlantic puffin

nom masculin (oiseau : macareux moine) (bird)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

platter of seafood

nom masculin (assortiment de fruits de mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Au restaurant, ils commandent toujours un plateau de fruits de mer.

open sea

nom féminin (haute mer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

go to sea

locution verbale (partir en mer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il faut toujours vérifier la météo avant de prendre la mer.

seafood

nom masculin (surtout au pluriel (nourriture provenant de la mer) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sea grape

nom masculin (plante vivace du littoral) (shrub)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le raisin de mer est un arbrisseau de la famille des Ephedraceae.

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