Today we’ll look at a beginner noun which is essesntial for all students to know: la mer, which means sea, seaside and coast. I’m now by the sea in Mexico and have incluced a beautiful picture at the bottom of the page! Keep reading!
la mer – [mɛʀ]
sea
![](https://www.frenchlearner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/la-mer.jpg)
Word origin
The French feminine noun mer (sea) comes from marinus in Latin.
Example sentences
This first sentence is audiobiographical as I spent over ten years in both Thailand and on the island of Martha’s Vineyard!
J’ai passé plus de dix ans de ma vie au bord de la mer.
I spent more than ten years of my life by the seaside.
I wrote this next sentence using à la mer (to the sea) but could have also written à la plage (to the beach).
Cette année, nous partons en vacances à la mer.
We’ll go on vacation to the sea this year.
The word depuis means “since” in French. However, it can also mean “from” in the context of “from a vantage point”.
On peut voir la mer agitée depuis le balcon.
You can see the rough sea from the balcony.
A lot of students have difficulties with the pronunciation of Méditerranée (Mediterranean). Try breaking it down by its five syllables: Mé-di-terr-a-née
La mer Méditerranée est située au sud de l’Europe et au nord de l’Afrique.
The Mediterranean Sea is located to the south of Europe and north of Africa.
![La mer au Mexique = the sea in Mexico](https://www.frenchlearner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/sea-mexico-david.jpg)
La mer au Mexique = the sea in Mexico