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Glite Dictionary
Isthmus of Suez

Isthmus of Suez

7.7
A narrow strip of land in northeastern Egypt that joins Africa and Asia
  • proper noun
translation icon : Istmo de Suez
  • The Isthmus of Suez serves as a vital connection between Africa and Asia.

Examples

  • The construction of the Suez Canal transformed trade routes through the Isthmus of Suez.

  • Tourists often visit the Isthmus of Suez to explore its historical significance.

  • It crosses the Isthmus of Suez and branches away to Australia, India, Ceylon, and China.

    Academic text (2016)

Surface Forms

Isthmus of Suez main

Morphology

isthmus + of + Suez

The phrase is fully compositional: 'isthmus' means a narrow land bridge and 'Suez' identifies the location, with 'of' serving as a locative/genitive connector. A B1 learner who knows these constituent meanings can therefore infer that this refers to the narrow land bridge at Suez connecting Africa and Asia.

Etymology

Isthmus of Suez comes from the ancient Greek word isthmus, meaning a 'narrow strip of land'. That's why the name fits: the place is a thin land bridge that connects Africa and Asia and lies between two seas.