Red Sea
/ˌrɛd ˈsiː/noun
A seawater inlet between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, connecting the Gulf of Aden with the Mediterranean region.
Did you know?Ancient Greek called it Erythra Thalassa and Latin called it Mare Rubrum—both literally meaning “Red Sea,” though ancient writers proposed several explanations for the color.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁rewdʰ-
“A reconstructed root meaning red or ruddy, ancestor of several red-related words.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Erythra Thalassa
“Literally “Red Sea”; erythra means red and thalassa means sea.”
5th Century BCE
Greek
Erythra Thalassa
“The name appears in ancient Greek geographical writing for the wider waters around the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.”
Classical Latin
Latin
Mare Rubrum
“Literally “Red Sea,” using mare for sea and rubrum for red.”
Middle English
English
rede see
“A translated form meaning “red sea,” used in English biblical and geographical tradition.”
Modern English
English
Red Sea
“The established modern geographical name for the sea between Africa and Arabia.”