Living Things
Oceans and Marine Life
Talk about the sea, the coast and the life beneath the waves.
From the Wadden Sea on the North Sea coast to coral reefs in the tropics, the oceans are full of life – and under pressure. Learn the language of tides, fish and marine protection.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tide | Gezeiten | The tide comes in twice a day. |
| high tide · low tide | Flut · Ebbe | At low tide, you can walk across the mudflats. |
| seabed | Meeresboden | Many creatures live on the seabed. |
| marine mammal | Meeressäuger | Seals and porpoises are marine mammals. |
| coral reef | Korallenriff | Coral reefs are home to a quarter of all marine species. |
| coral bleaching | Korallenbleiche | Warmer water causes coral bleaching. |
| fish stocks | Fischbestände | Some fish stocks have recovered thanks to fishing limits. |
| overfishing | Überfischung | Overfishing is one of the biggest threats to the oceans. |
| by-catch | Beifang | Dolphins are sometimes caught as by-catch. |
| plankton | Plankton | Plankton is at the start of the ocean food chain. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- marine life
- ocean currents
- sea level
- deep sea
- to wash up on the beach
- fishing quota
- marine protected area
- rough sea
"After the storm, all kinds of shells washed up on the beach."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
At the coast
- The tide is coming in / going out.
- We walked across the mudflats at low tide.
- A seal was lying on the sandbank.
- The sea was rough / calm today.
Ocean issues
- Coral reefs are being damaged by warmer water.
- Seabirds and turtles swallow plastic.
- Many fish stocks are overfished.
- Protected areas help fish populations recover.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Have you been to the North Sea or the Baltic coast? What did you see?
- Which sea creature fascinates you most?
- Should we eat less fish to protect the oceans?
- How can each of us reduce plastic in the sea?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "Ebbe" in English?
Low tide.
2. What do we call fish and animals caught by accident?
By-catch.
3. What happens when corals turn white in warm water?
Coral bleaching.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about oceans and marine life.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Explore. Respect. Protect.