Pyrenees
pronunciation
How to pronounce Pyrenees in British English:
UK [ˌpirəˈni:z]
How to pronounce Pyrenees in American English:
US [ˈpɪrəˌniz]
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- Noun:
- a chain of mountains between France and Spain
Word Origin
- Pyrenees
- 1550s, from French Pyrénées, from Latin Pyrenæi montes, from Greek Pyrene, name of a daughter of Bebryx/Bebrycius who was beloved of Herakles; she is said to be buried in these mountains (or that the mountains are the tomb Herakles reared over her corpse). The name is said to mean literally "fruit-stone," but Room says it might be Greek pyr "fire" + eneos "dumb, speechless," which perhaps translates or folk-etymologizes a Celtic goddess name. "In medieval times there was no overall name for the range and local people would have known only the names of individual mountains and valleys" [Room, Adrian, Place Names of the World, 2nd ed., McFarland & Co., 2006]. Related: Pyrenean.
Example
- 1. First , this tiny nation , sandwiched between france and spain in the pyrenees mountains , promotes an active , outdoor lifestyle .
- 2. The pyrenees weekend trip costs 795 including airport transfers , half board , guides , support car , energy drinks and mechanical assistance .
- 3. But it 's in the catalan region , at the other end of the pyrenees , that demands for independence now appear to approaching critical mass -- all by means of peaceful civic protest .
- 4. Gros is steadily working his way south over the pyrenees , now working with melis in priorat and matarromera in ribera del duero .
- 5. Last summer we went walking in the pyrenees .