French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Sea" in French: mer
la mer
Sea in French is la mer, feminine, said MAIR. Aller à la mer means go to the seaside. La Méditerranée is often just la mer in casual French talk about summer holidays.
Summer plans
On part à la mer en août.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mer
Say it
MAIR
/mɛʁ/
MAIR. Open è. Soft French r. One syllable. Do not add an English "uh" at the end.
"Sea" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la mer | the sea Sea or seaside in everyday talk. | Sea or seaside in everyday talk. |
| à la mer | to the seaside Holiday destination phrase. | Holiday destination phrase. |
| au bord de la mer | by the sea Location along the coast. | Location along the coast. |
| le mal de mer | seasickness Travel complaint. | Travel complaint. |
How to use mer in real life
- 1Summer plans
On part à la mer en août.
We're going to the seaside in August.
À la mer is the holiday set phrase.
- 2Weather chat
La mer est calme ce matin.
The sea is calm this morning.
La mer as the water itself.
- 3Directions
L'hôtel est juste au bord de la mer.
The hotel is right by the sea.
Au bord de la mer for coastal location.
Mistakes English speakers make with mer
Incorrect: Le mer est bleue.
Correct: La mer est bleue.
Mer is feminine: la mer.
Incorrect: Je vais au mer.
Correct: Je vais à la mer.
Use à la mer, not au mer.
Good to know
French holiday talk splits montagne and mer. Océan appears for the Atlantic side; many still say la mer for beach weeks on either coast.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a weekend getaway
ChatPal
Tu préfères la mer ou la montagne ?
Do you prefer the sea or the mountains?
You
La mer. J'ai besoin de nager.
The sea. I need to swim.
ChatPal
Ok. On cherche un Airbnb près de la mer.
Okay. We'll look for an Airbnb near the sea.
You
Idéal, avec vue si possible.
Ideal, with a view if possible.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sea" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sea" in French
How do I say go to the seaside?
Aller à la mer.
Is mer feminine?
Yes: la mer.
What is mal de mer?
Seasickness.
Mer or océan?
Mer is the everyday seaside word. Océan is more specific, especially the Atlantic.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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