Greek original · Hope
Θάλαττα θάλαττα
Thalatta, thalatta
“The sea! The sea!”
Xenophon, Anabasis 4.7.24
Meaning
What does “Thalatta, thalatta” mean?
A cry of relief and joy at reaching the end of a long ordeal and seeing the way home.
Origin
The story behind it
Xenophon tells how ten thousand Greek soldiers, after a long retreat through Asia in 401–400 BC, reached a mountain top and saw the Black Sea. The shout spread through the ranks.
Greek and Latin
From Greek to Latin
The Greek originalΘάλαττα θάλαττα
Thalatta, thalatta
In Latin
There is no Latin version; the Latin word for the sea is mare.
Pronunciation
How to say it
Roughly THA-lat-ta, THA-lat-ta.
When to use it
How to use it today
Lovely for a beach house, a sailing club, a travel poster or the end of a long journey.
- Greek
- Θάλαττα θάλαττα
- Transliteration
- Thalatta, thalatta
- English
- The sea! The sea!
- Source
- Xenophon, Anabasis 4.7.24
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.