ωκεανός
okeanós/o.ce.aˈnos/masculine
The English word "ocean" is ωκεανός (okeanós) in Greek.
ωκεανός is a masculine noun used to refer to one of the large bodies of water.
Meaning: one of the large bodies of water (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
In the singular, ωκεανός changes based on its role in a sentence. Use του ωκεανού for the genitive singular to indicate possession or to say "of the ocean". Use τον ωκεανό for the accusative singular when the ocean is the direct object. To talk about multiple bodies of water, the plural form is ωκεανοί.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /o.ce.aˈnos/. It has four syllables, and the stress is on the fourth syllable: okeanós.
Did you know?
- In Greek mythology, Ωκεανός was not the water itself but a colossal river-god who was believed to encircle the entire world in a great ring.
- In the Greek alphabet, the first letter of ωκεανός is ω, the very last letter of the alphabet.
- While ωκεανός describes the global bodies of water, Greeks almost exclusively use the word θάλασσα when talking about going to the beach.
Examples in context
- Ο Ατλαντικός Ωκεανός είναι ο δεύτερος μεγαλύτερος ωκεανός της γης.The Atlantic Ocean is the Earth's second largest ocean.This sentence shows how to name the Atlantic Ocean using ωκεανός.
- Ο ωκεανός έχει το χρώμα του ουρανού.The ocean has the color of the sky.This sentence uses ωκεανός to describe the color of the ocean.Tatoeba #11383282 by carlosalberto, translation #11383273 by carlosalberto
- Ο ωκεανός είναι πολύ μεγάλος και μπλε.The ocean is very big and blue.Tatoeba #12018114 by carlosalberto, translation #12018094 by carlosalberto
- Η θέα της θάλασσαςThe view of the ocean
- Μπορείς να δεις το πέλαγος από εδώ;Can you see the ocean from here?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nikos and Maria are looking at a map of the world.
- Νίκος NikosΚόιτα πόσο μεγάλος είναι αυτός ο ωκεανός!Koíta póso megálos eínai aftós o okeanós!Look how big this ocean is!
- Μαρία MariaΝαι, είναι ο μεγαλύτερος ωκεανός στον κόσμο.Ne, eínai o megáliteros okeanós ston kósmo.Yes, it is the largest ocean in the world.
- Νίκος NikosΘα ήθελα να ταξιδέψω σε αυτόν τον ωκεανό.Tha íthela na taxidépso se aftón ton okeanó.I would like to travel across this ocean.
- Μαρία MariaΕίναι ένα πολύ όμορφο όνειρο, Νίκο.Eínai éna polý ómoro óneiro, Níko.It is a very beautiful dream, Nikos.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ocean” translations and entries ωκεανός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
