Mare nostrum
“Our sea.”
Roman name for the Mediterranean
What does “Mare nostrum” mean?
Mare nostrum translates as “Our sea.”
The Mediterranean seen as a shared home sea; also used for any sea one nation claims as its own.
“Mare nostrum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Mare | sea | nominative singular neuter of mare, “sea”; neuter nouns like this one have the same form in nominative and accusative |
| nostrum | our | neuter singular of noster, “our”; agrees with mare in case, number and gender |
How to pronounce “Mare nostrum”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of mare and the first syllable of nostrum.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “our sea”. It was the Roman name for the Mediterranean, used once Rome controlled the lands around its whole coastline.
Romans of the Republic and Empire could sail from one end of the sea to the other without leaving their own territory, so the Mediterranean worked as a kind of inland lake at the centre of the empire.
In modern times the phrase was revived in politics, most famously by Italian nationalists and later by Mussolini’s regime, which claimed the Mediterranean as an Italian sphere. Today it also appears as a title for books, restaurants, boats and cultural projects about the Mediterranean world.
How to use “Mare nostrum”
A fitting caption for holiday photos from the Mediterranean, a name for a boat, restaurant or travel blog, or a tattoo for someone whose family or heart belongs to that coast. Be aware of its political history if you use it in a serious or public setting.
- Latin
- Mare nostrum
- English
- Our sea.
- Source
- Roman name for the Mediterranean
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- History
Common mistakes
- Do not change the ending to “nostra” or “nostrae”. Mare is neuter, so nostrum is the only correct form here.
- It is not a general phrase for “our ocean”. Mare means “sea” and the name belongs specifically to the Mediterranean.
- The phrase carries imperial and nationalist overtones, so it is not always a neutral nickname for the Mediterranean.
Questions about “Mare nostrum”
What does “Mare nostrum” mean literally?
“Our sea”. Mare is the Latin word for sea and nostrum means “our”.
What sea is “Mare nostrum”?
The Mediterranean. The Romans used the name once their empire surrounded the whole sea.
How do you pronounce “Mare nostrum”?
Classical: MAH-reh NOS-troom. The Church pronunciation sounds the same.
Is “Mare nostrum” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. Both words are correct and agree in gender, number and case, so it works as it stands.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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