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Glite Dictionary
Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

1 6.7
A city in southern Chile on the Strait of Magellan, known as the southernmost city in the world
  • proper noun
: Punta Arenas
  • Punta Arenas is known for its vibrant culture and scenic beauty in Punta Arenas.
  • day trips from Punta Arenas

Examples

  • Tourists flock to Punta Arenas to explore its rich history and stunning landscapes.

  • Many tourists visit Punta Arenas as a gateway to Patagonia and Antarctica.

  • Ships often stop at Punta Arenas when navigating around the tip of South America.

  • The climate in Punta Arenas is often windy and cool due to its southern location.

  • I visited Punta Arenas last summer.

  • Have you ever been to Punta Arenas?

  • Many travelers start their journey to Antarctica from Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world.

Surface Forms

Punta Arenas main

Morphology

Punta + Arenas

Punta Arenas is a lexicalized place name (proper noun) whose referent (a specific city in southern Chile) cannot be derived from its surface parts. The listed constituents are not English lexical items in the entry, and even if a learner knew the Spanish words punta (‘point’) and arenas (‘sands’), that would at best suggest a geographic feature but would not allow a B1 learner to infer the specific city identity or its location, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Punta Arenas comes from Spanish words punta ('point') and arenas ('sands'). It describes a sandy point of land by the water, so it became the name for the Chilean city at the tip of South America.