German · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Sea" in German: Meer
das Meer
Sea in German is das Meer. Going to the coast is ans Meer fahren. Named seas keep See in compounds like Nordsee and Ostsee.
Holiday plan
Im Sommer fahren wir ans Meer.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Meer
Say it
mair
/meːɐ/
mair. Long e vowel. Soft final r. One syllable.
"Sea" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| das Meer | the sea Neuter noun for the sea. | Neuter noun for the sea. |
| ans Meer | to the sea Travel destination phrase. | Travel destination phrase. |
| am Meer | by the sea Location. | Location. |
| die Nordsee / Ostsee | North Sea / Baltic Sea German coast names use See. | German coast names use See. |
How to use Meer in real life
- 1Holiday plan
Im Sommer fahren wir ans Meer.
In summer we're going to the sea.
Ans = an das.
- 2Weather talk
Am Meer weht oft ein starker Wind.
By the sea a strong wind often blows.
Am Meer for location.
- 3Swimming
Das Meer ist heute ziemlich kalt.
The sea is quite cold today.
Das Meer stays neuter.
Mistakes English speakers make with Meer
Incorrect: die Meer
Correct: das Meer
Meer is neuter.
Incorrect: Wir fahren zum Meer. (often)
Correct: Wir fahren ans Meer.
The set phrase is ans Meer, not usually zum Meer.
Good to know
Germans distinguish das Meer from der See (the lake)—same letters as See in Nordsee, but der See alone usually means lake. Beach holidays ans Meer are a classic summer plan, especially to the Nordsee or Ostsee.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a summer trip
ChatPal
Berge oder Meer dieses Jahr?
Mountains or sea this year?
You
Meer. Ich will ans Meer und schwimmen.
Sea. I want to go to the sea and swim.
ChatPal
Nordsee? Das Meer dort ist wilder.
North Sea? The sea there is wilder.
You
Ostsee lieber. Das Meer ist ruhiger.
Baltic rather. The sea is calmer.
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 German
What gender is Meer?
Neuter: das Meer.
How do you say to the sea?
Ans Meer.
Is See the same as Meer?
Der See usually means lake. Nordsee and Ostsee are seas by name.
How do you say by the sea?
Am Meer.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
