mediterranean

Everyday

1. The Mediterranean (Sea) is the large sea between southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia. tree →
2. Mediterranean means of or near this sea: Mediterranean countries include Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt. tree →
3. A Mediterranean climate has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, found around this sea and in places like California and parts of Australia. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons pupils locate the Mediterranean on maps, learn about its climate, tourist beaches and the plants that grow there (olives, grapes, lemons). In history lessons the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans all traded and fought across the Mediterranean; the Romans called it «our sea». In everyday life, a «Mediterranean diet» means lots of vegetables, fish, olive oil and grains. In news, people fleeing war sometimes cross it in dangerous small boats.

Examples

• We went on holiday to a beach on the Mediterranean. tree →
• Italy sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea like a boot. tree →
• Olives grow well in the Mediterranean climate. tree →
• The Romans sailed all around the Mediterranean. tree →
• Perth has a Mediterranean climate. tree →
• Doctors say the Mediterranean diet is healthy. tree →
• Many refugees have tried to cross the Mediterranean in small boats. tree →
• And then they flew across the Alps towards the blue Mediterranean. tree →

Note

Always a capital M. Spelling trap: one «d», one «t» together with double «r»: «Med-i-ter-ran-e-an». Informal short form: «the Med». It is a sea, not an ocean, although it joins the Atlantic Ocean at Gibraltar.