Meeres

Meeres is a form found in the German language that revolves around the word Meer, meaning sea. In its primary use, Meeres is the genitive singular form of Meer and thus means “of the sea” as in phrases like die Wellen des Meeres (the waves of the sea). It is rarely used as a standalone noun in modern prose outside fixed expressions; the plural of Meer is Meere, used to denote multiple seas.

Beyond its genitive use, Meeres also appears as a prefix in many compound nouns to convey a marine or sea-related sense. When attached to another noun, the sequence Meeres- functions much like an attributive meaning “sea-” or “marine.” Examples include Meeresoberfläche (sea surface), Meeresboden (seabed), Meeresfrüchte (seafood), Meeresgrenze (sea boundary), Meeresluft (sea air), and Meeresfauna or Meeresfauna (marine fauna). In these compounds, the initial Meeres term is capitalized as part of a single noun.

In linguistic and literary contexts, Meeres also appears in phrases describing qualities or phenomena associated with the sea, such as Meeresrauschen (the sound of the sea) or Meeresfarben (sea colors). Its usage reflects both literal references to the ocean and broader metaphorical or thematic associations with maritime life.

Etymologically, Meeres derives from the German noun Meer, with Meeres representing the genitive form. The everyday plural for “seas” remains Meere. In summary, Meeres functions primarily as a genitive form of Meer and as a productive prefix in sea-related German compounds. See also related terms such as Meere, Meeresfrüchte, and Meeresrauschen.