Updated 2 October 2026

Phrasebook

Mer or océan: French phrases for a seaside trip

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 2 October 2026 · About the library

Say you are going to the seaside, ask for a sea view and talk about an ocean crossing. Practise la mer, l’océan and twelve useful travel phrases.

A2
12 phrases
3 situations
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In short

La mer is the sea; un océan is an ocean. For an everyday seaside trip, say aller à la mer or passer quelques jours au bord de la mer, including on an ocean coast. Use océan when naming an ocean or describing it directly: l’océan Atlantique.

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A calm French Atlantic seaside scene with two friends walking on a sandy beach, a small harbour and gentle ocean waves, no signs or boat lettering. — Spend a weekend au bord de la mer. Illustration: Atelier

la merthe sea

Focus: a named sea or the sea in everyday speech

à la mer / au bord de la mer / en mer

Nous allons à la mer ce week-end.
We’re going to the seaside this weekend.

La mer Méditerranée est sur cette carte.
The Mediterranean Sea is on this map.

un océanan ocean

Focus: an ocean as a body of water

l’océan Atlantique / traverser l’océan

Le bateau traverse l’océan.
The boat is crossing the ocean.

Nous regardons l’océan depuis la terrasse.
We’re looking at the ocean from the terrace.

Twelve phrases to say and recognise

Use the phrase filters to practise your part first, then show the replies. The first two exchanges describe a seaside stay. The third describes time on the water.

Plan a seaside weekend

À la mer describes the seaside destination.

YouOn va à la mer ce week-end ?Shall we go to the seaside this weekend?

Your travel partnerOui, j’aimerais passer deux jours au bord de la mer.Yes, I’d like to spend two days by the sea.

YouOn peut se promener sur la plage.We can walk on the beach.

Your travel partnerEt visiter le port le matin.And visit the harbour in the morning.

Choose a room with a view

Sur la mer follows vue; au bord de la mer locates the hotel.

YouCet hôtel est au bord de la mer ?Is this hotel by the sea?

Your travel partnerOui, les chambres donnent sur la mer.Yes, the rooms overlook the sea.

YouJe préfère une chambre avec vue sur la mer.I’d prefer a room with a sea view.

Your travel partnerMoi aussi. On va réserver une chambre pour deux nuits.Me too. We’re going to book a room for two nights.

Talk about a crossing

En mer means at sea. Traverser takes its object directly.

YouCe bateau traverse quel océan ?Which ocean does this boat cross?

Your travel partnerIl traverse l’océan Atlantique.It crosses the Atlantic Ocean.

YouTu aimes passer du temps en mer ?Do you like spending time at sea?

Your travel partnerOui, j’aime regarder les vagues depuis le bateau.Yes, I like watching the waves from the boat.

What is the difference between mer and océan?

Four phrases with different jobs

French	English	Example
à la mer	at / to the seaside	Elle est à la mer cette semaine.
au bord de la mer	by the sea	L’hôtel est au bord de la mer.
en mer	at sea	Le bateau est en mer.
sur la mer	over / onto the sea	La chambre donne sur la mer.

Keep the genders with the nouns: la mer is feminine; un océan is masculine, even when l’ hides the article in l’océan. Write the accent in océan. In a named place, keep the established noun: la mer Méditerranée, l’océan Atlantique.