Meaning & use
Aegean Sea
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Meaning
proper nounproper
The arm of the Mediterranean Sea that lies between mainland Greece and Turkey, dotted with many Greek islands.
Grammar: Used with the definite article: the Aegean Sea. Do not say 'Aegean Sea' alone when referring to the body of water.
Patterns
- the Aegean Sea
- in the Aegean Sea
- across the Aegean Sea
The ferry from Athens to Crete crosses the Aegean Sea overnight.
Many tourists visit the islands scattered across the Aegean Sea in summer.
Ancient traders sailed the Aegean Sea to exchange goods between Greece and Asia Minor.
Common combinations
- the Aegean Sea
- The Aegean Sea is famous for its clear blue water and whitewashed villages.
- islands in the Aegean Sea
- Santorini and Mykonos are popular islands in the Aegean Sea.
- coast of the Aegean Sea
- The coast of the Aegean Sea has many ancient ruins.
- cross the Aegean Sea
- They crossed the Aegean Sea by boat to reach Turkey.
- Aegean Sea region
- The Aegean Sea region has a mild climate and fertile soil.
Synonyms and how they differ
- the Aegean
- A shorter, informal way to refer to the same sea; common in travel writing and everyday speech.
Word family
- Aegean adjective
- Relating to the Aegean Sea or its islands, as in 'Aegean culture'.
Commonly confused: Aegean Sea or Adriatic Sea? Aegean Sea or Ionian Sea?
Aegean Sea vs Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea lies between Italy and the Balkans, while the Aegean Sea is further east, between Greece and Turkey.
Aegean Sea vs Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea is west of Greece, whereas the Aegean Sea is east of mainland Greece.
Practice
Which sentence correctly uses the name of this sea?
Choose one answer.
The correct phrase is 'the Aegean Sea' with the definite article. 'Aegean Sea' without 'the' is not used in standard English, and 'an' or the possessive form are both wrong here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Aegean Sea”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.