oceaan
/ˌoː.seːˈjaːn/masculine
The English word 'ocean' is translated into Dutch as oceaan. Wiktionary also lists wereldzee.
Meaning: one of the large bodies of water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oceaan | /ˌoː.seːˈjaːn/ | masculine |
| wereldzee | /ˈʋeː.rəltˌseː/ | feminine |
The term refers to one of the large bodies of water.
Which one should you use?
oceaan is a masculine noun, while wereldzee is a feminine noun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Netherlands and Belgium, the term Noordzee is commonly used to refer specifically to the part of the Atlantic Ocean located between the British Isles and mainland Europe.
How do you pronounce it?
The word oceaan has three syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /ˌoː.seːˈjaːn/.
Did you know?
- The Dutch word oceaan shares its entire lineage with the English 'ocean', stemming from the Ancient Greek word ὠκεᾰνός (ōkeănós), which originally referred to a great river encircling the world.
- In Dutch, the word zee is used in the common idiom op zee zijn, which can mean both being on a voyage and being a sailor by profession.
- While oceaan refers to the vast body of water, Dutch speakers often use the word zee for both 'sea' and 'ocean' in casual conversation.
Examples in context
- De oceaan was rustig.The ocean was calm.This sentence illustrates how to describe the state of the oceaan.Tatoeba #2394367 by martinod, translation #22221 by CK
- Ik hou van de oceaan.I love the ocean.This sentence shows how to express an affection for the oceaan.Tatoeba #4521333 by Raizin, translation #4500140 by CK
- Jij zwom in de oceaan.You swam in the ocean.This sentence demonstrates the use of the oceaan as a location for swimming.Tatoeba #7910712 by MarijnKp, translation #7910710 by MarijnKp
- De zee is erg ruw vandaag.The ocean is very rough today.
- De Atlantische Oceaan is koud in vergelijking met de Indische Oceaan.The Atlantic Ocean is cold compared to the Indian Ocean.
- Laten we naar de zee gaan!Let's go to the ocean!
- We hebben een heerlijke dag aan de Noordzee gehad.We had a lovely day at the North Sea.
- De oceaan is een eindeloze bron van mysteries.The ocean is an endless source of mysteries.
- Zeewier is een belangrijke plant in de zee.Seaweed is an important plant in the ocean.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Noah are looking at a map of the world.
- EmmaHoe groot is deze oceaan?How big is this ocean?
- NoahHij is echt enorm.It is truly enormous.
- EmmaIk wil die oceaan graag zien.I would really like to see that ocean.
- NoahDat gaan we een keer doen.We will do that sometime.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ocean” translations and entries oceaan, wereldzee, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oceaan, wereldzee, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
