balaena
[baːˈɫae̯.na]
The Latin word for whale is balaena.
The most recognized and widely used Latin term for whale is balaena.
Meaning: large sea mammal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
balaena belongs to the first declension of Latin nouns. Depending on its role in a sentence, its form will change: use balaenae to mean "of the whale" (genitive singular) and use balaenam when the whale is the direct object of a verb (accusative singular).
Did you know?
- Pliny the Elder wrote that some balaenae in the Indian Ocean covered four iugera, an area of about one hectare.
Examples in context
- Edistine umquam carnem balaenae?Have you ever eaten whale meat?This sentence shows how to use the form balaena when referring to its meat.Tatoeba #1363398 by alexmarcelo, translation #953297 by CK
- Quid est balaena?What is a whale?This sentence is a way to ask for a definition of the form balaena.Tatoeba #8937584 by alexmarcelo, translation #8915510 by CK
- Balæna est magna bestia marina quae in oceano vivit.A whale is a large marine beast that lives in the ocean.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a maritime illustration.
- ClaudiaEcce, balaena magna in pictura est!Look, there is a large whale in the picture!
- MarcusIta, balaena est animal mirabile.Yes, the whale is a wonderful animal.
- ClaudiaEstne illa balaena vera?Is that a real whale?
- MarcusNon, est tantum pictura.No, it is only a picture.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry balaena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
