Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Mekong River

Mekong River

3 3.0
A large river in Southeast Asia that flows from Tibet to the South China Sea
  • proper noun
: río Mekong
  • Many travelers enjoy taking boat tours along the Mekong River to explore the surrounding landscapes.
  • Mekong River in Vietnam

Examples

  • The Mekong River is known for its diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity.

  • Fishermen depend on the Mekong River for their daily livelihood.

  • The Mekong River delta is home to a rich variety of plant and animal species.

  • The Mekong River is vital for transportation and agriculture in many Southeast Asian countries.

  • The Mekong River is the longest river in Southeast Asia.

  • Many tourists visit the Mekong River for its stunning views.

  • The Mekong River flows through several countries, providing water and resources to millions of people.

Synonyms

Mekong
vsMekong River
14 4.0

A large river in Southeast Asia that flows through several countries and forms a wide delta in southern Vietnam

focuses on the full route from Tibetan highlands through many countries

Surface Forms

Mekong River main

Morphology

Mekong + river

This is a straightforward place-name + generic noun construction: a learner who knows 'river' can infer that 'Mekong River' refers to a river named Mekong. The proper name 'Mekong' does not introduce an idiomatic or non-compositional meaning, and this naming pattern is cross-linguistically common, so the meaning is immediately derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Mekong River may come from local words Mae Nam Khong, where Mae Nam literally means 'mother of water'. This image of the river as a mother helps explain why the name fits a huge river that 'gives life' to many people and animals.