Melanesia
/ˌmɛl.əˈniː.zi.ə/noun
A region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean including New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and nearby island groups.
Did you know?Melanesia was coined in the 19th century from Greek roots meaning “black islands,” a reminder that many place-names carry the worldview of the people who named them.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
mélas (μέλας) + nêsos (νῆσος)
“black + island”
1830s
French
Mélanésie
“a name proposed for the dark-skinned islands of the southwestern Pacific”
1840s
English
Melanesia
“the Pacific island region so named from Greek roots”
Modern English
English
Melanesia
“the island region of the southwestern Pacific”
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