How to Say "sea" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “sea” is “mar” — use 'mar' when referring to the sea as a general body of saltwater you might swim in, sail on, or see from the coast..
mar
/mar//ˈmaɾ/
Examples
Me encanta nadar en el mar.
I love swimming in the sea.
El barco navega por el mar Caribe.
The boat is sailing on the Caribbean Sea.
Desde la ventana del hotel, veíamos el mar.
From the hotel window, we could see the sea.
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'.
océano
oh-SEH-ah-noh/oˈθe.a.no/
Examples
El Océano Pacífico es el más grande del mundo.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest in the world.
Me gustaría vivir cerca del océano para escuchar las olas.
I would like to live near the ocean to hear the waves.
La contaminación del océano es un problema ambiental serio.
Ocean pollution is a serious environmental problem.
Gender Rule
Even though it ends in '-o', remember that 'océano' is a masculine word, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it.
Using 'la'
Mistake: “La océano”
Correction: El océano. Always use the masculine article 'el' with this noun.
General Sea vs. Named Ocean
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