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Glite Dictionary
Lake Tana

Lake Tana

5.6
The largest lake in Ethiopia that is the main source of the Blue Nile
  • proper noun
translation icon : Lago Tana
  • The Blue Nile begins its long journey to Sudan from Lake Tana in Ethiopia.

Examples

  • Many tourists visit Lake Tana to explore its historic monasteries and enjoy its scenic beauty.

  • Environmentalists are working to protect the unique ecosystem around Lake Tana.

  • Lake Tana is beautiful.

  • I visited Lake Tana last summer.

  • Many tourists visit Lake Tana to explore its historic monasteries and enjoy its scenic beauty.

  • The Blue Nile begins its long journey to Sudan from Lake Tana in Ethiopia.

  • Environmentalists are working to protect the unique ecosystem around Lake Tana.

Synonyms

Lake Tsana
vsLake Tana
6.8

A large lake in northern Ethiopia that is the country's largest and the source of the Blue Nile

is the same meaning but uses the other spelling form

Surface Forms

Lake Tana main

Morphology

lake + Tana

The structure 'lake' + proper name is directly compositional: a learner who knows 'lake' and recognises 'Tana' as a name will infer it is a body of water called Tana. This naming pattern (e.g. Lake + place/name) is cross-linguistically common, so the basic referential meaning is transparent even though extra facts (e.g. location or size) are not derivable from the words alone.

Etymology

Lake Tana may come from a local word meaning 'source' or 'spring', because this large Ethiopian lake is where the Blue Nile begins. Picture a wide lake with many islands and old churches giving water to the river, and that image helps you remember why the name is linked to being a river 'source'.