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Glite Dictionary
Northern Marianas

Northern Marianas

7.0
A group of islands in the western Pacific that govern themselves, excluding Guam
  • proper noun
  • /ˈnɔrðərn ˌmɛriˈɑnəz/
translation icon : Marianas del Norte
  • The Northern Marianas attract tourists with their beautiful beaches and historical sites.

Examples

  • The economy of the Northern Marianas depends heavily on tourism and agriculture.

  • She moved to the Northern Marianas to teach English at a local school.

  • The Northern Marianas are known for their beautiful beaches.

  • Have you ever visited the Northern Marianas?

  • Many people dream of vacationing in the Northern Marianas because of the stunning scenery.

  • The Northern Marianas are a popular destination for diving enthusiasts looking to explore coral reefs.

  • During our trip, we learned about the unique culture and history of the Northern Marianas islands.

Synonyms

Northern Mariana Islands
vsNorthern Marianas
1 5.3

A self-governing group of islands in the western Pacific that belong to the United States

is the same entity but uses a different name form

Surface Forms

Northern Marianas main

Morphology

northern + Marianas

This is a straightforward geographic name formed compositionally from the adjective 'northern' (pertaining to the north) and the place name 'Marianas', so its meaning — the northern part/group of the Marianas islands — follows directly from the constituents. Such directional + place-name combinations are cross-linguistically common, making the expression immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Northern Marianas gets its name from long ago when Spanish visitors named the islands after Queen Mariana of Spain. The word Northern simply shows these islands are the ones to the 'north' of Guam, so the name means the 'northern group' of the Marianas today.