mar
/mar/
sea
The primary meaning of mar is 'sea' or 'ocean', referring to a large body of saltwater.
mar(Noun)
sea
?The large body of saltwater.
ocean
?Often used interchangeably with 'sea' in everyday speech.
📝 In Action
Me encanta nadar en el mar.
A1I love swimming in the sea.
El barco navega por el mar Caribe.
A2The boat is sailing on the Caribbean Sea.
Desde la ventana del hotel, veíamos el mar.
A2From the hotel window, we could see the sea.
💡 Grammar Points
Is it 'el mar' or 'la mar'?
Most of the time, you'll use 'el mar' (masculine). However, people who work with the sea, like sailors, and poets often say 'la mar' (feminine). 'La mar' sounds more personal and respectful. For everyday use, stick with 'el mar'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Saying 'Very' with 'la mar de'
In casual Spanish, you can say 'la mar de bueno' for 'very good' or 'la mar de gente' for 'a lot of people'. It's a friendly, informal expression.
Figuratively, mar can be used to mean 'a sea of' or 'a vast mass of' something, such as 'un mar de gente' (a sea of people).
mar(Noun)
sea of
?A large, overwhelming amount of something.
mass of
?A huge, undefined quantity.
,flood of
?An overwhelming influx.
📝 In Action
Había un mar de gente en el concierto.
B1There was a sea of people at the concert.
Después de la clase, tenía un mar de dudas.
B2After the class, I had a sea of doubts.
El político se enfrentó a un mar de críticas.
C1The politician faced a sea of criticism.
⭐ Usage Tips
Painting a Picture with Words
Use 'un mar de...' just like you would use 'a sea of...' in English. It's a great way to show that a quantity is so large it feels overwhelming, like the ocean itself.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mar
Question 1 of 2
Which phrase means 'There was a huge crowd'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mar' and 'océano'?
Technically, an 'océano' (ocean) is one of the Earth's five huge bodies of water (like the Atlantic Ocean), and a 'mar' (sea) is a smaller part of an ocean, often partly enclosed by land (like the Mediterranean Sea). In everyday conversation, however, people often use 'mar' and 'océano' to mean the same thing: the big, salty water at the beach.
Why is 'mar' sometimes masculine ('el') and sometimes feminine ('la')?
It's one of Spanish's special cases! The standard, most common form is masculine: 'el mar'. The feminine form, 'la mar', is used in poetry, literature, and by people who have a close relationship with the sea, like fishermen. It gives a more personal, emotional, or respectful feeling. When you're learning, it's safest to always use 'el mar'.