Gulf of Tehuantepec

8.2

An arm of the Pacific Ocean off southern Mexico known for strong winds

proper noun

: Golfo de Tehuantepec

The Gulf of Tehuantepec is known for its frequent and strong gales, called Tehuantepecers.

Examples

A major shipping route passes through the Gulf of Tehuantepec due to its strategic location.
Many migratory birds cross the Gulf of Tehuantepec on their way to Central America.
The Gulf of Tehuantepec is known for its strong winds.
Many ships pass through the Gulf of Tehuantepec every year.
A major shipping route passes through the Gulf of Tehuantepec due to its strategic location.
Many ships pass through the Gulf of Tehuantepec every year.
The Gulf of Tehuantepec is known for its frequent and strong gales, called Tehuantepecers.

Surface Forms

Gulf of Tehuantepec main

Morphology

gulf + of + Tehuantepec

This is a straightforward place-name built from 'gulf' (a stretch of sea) + 'of' + a place name; a learner who knows 'gulf' and recognizes Tehuantepec as a toponym can immediately infer it refers to a gulf adjoining Tehuantepec. The construction follows a common cross-linguistic geographic naming pattern, so the meaning is transparently derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Gulf of Tehuantepec comes from the nearby town of Tehuantepec on Mexico's southern coast. Sailors and local people used the town name for the wide bay, and because the area is known for strong 'winds' and busy 'ships', the name now calls to mind that windy, important sea route.