zeeniveau
/ˈzeː.niˌvoː/neuter
The English phrase sea level can be translated into Dutch as zeeniveau or zeespiegel.
Meaning: nominal height of the surface of the oceans above which heights of geographical features and aircraft flight levels are measured (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| zeeniveau | /ˈzeː.niˌvoː/ | neuter |
| zeespiegel | /ˈzeːˌspi.ɣəl/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to the nominal height of the surface of the oceans above which heights of geographical features and aircraft flight levels are measured.
What does it mean word for word?
The word zeeniveau is a compound of zee (sea) and niveau (level). The word zeespiegel is a compound of zee (sea) and spiegel (mirror), literally meaning 'sea mirror'.
Which one should you use?
zeespiegel is more commonly used in general contexts, such as describing the physical position of land relative to the ocean.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter form zeeniveau is used with the definite article het.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of zeeniveau is /ˈzeː.niˌvoː/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The Dutch language has a specific term, waterwolf, to describe the way the zeespiegel historically 'ate' away at the coastline.
- If you are looking at a technical topographic map in the Netherlands, the altitude is often marked relative to NAP, which is the official reference point derived from the Dutch sea level.
- While zeeniveau is borrowed from French, the Dutch zeespiegel is a purely Germanic construction.
Examples in context
- De stad ligt onder de zeespiegel.The city is below sea level.This sentence is useful for describing a city's position relative to the zeespiegel.Tatoeba #3659894 by Globetrotter, translation #9926373 by sundown
- Op zeeniveau kookt water bij 100 graden Celsius.Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.This sentence demonstrates the use of zeeniveau.Tatoeba #1479066 by Citrine, translation #1405611 by CK
- Het merendeel van Nederland ligt onder zeeniveau.Most of the Netherlands is below sea level.This sentence uses zeeniveau to describe the elevation of the Netherlands.Tatoeba #10641282 by rose_d, translation #9006861 by Hybrid
- Het niveau van de zee stijgt jaarlijks met enkele millimeters.The sea level rises a few millimeters each year.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Levi and Emma are discussing geography in a classroom.
- LeviHoeveel meter boven zeeniveau ligt deze berg?How many meters above sea level is this mountain?
- EmmaIk denk dat het ongeveer tweeduizend meter is.I think it is about two thousand meters.
- LeviDat is een groot verschil met het zeeniveau hier.That is a big difference compared to the sea level here.
- EmmaJa, we wonen bijna op nul meter, Levi.Yes, we live almost at zero meters, Levi.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sea level” translations and entries zeeniveau, zeespiegel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
