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proper noun

Marseille

/maʁ.sɛj/

proper noun/maʁ.sɛj/

Marseille (the capital city of Bouches-du-Rhône department, France; the capital city of the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)

Synonyms: cité phocéenne

Related: La Marseillaise, marseillais, Marseillais, Marseillaise, marseillisation

From the Latin Massilia, Marsilia, Massalia, from Ancient Greek Μασσαλία (Massalía), possibly an Ancient Ligurian toponym or perhaps from Ancient Greek μάσσων (mássōn, “further”) + ἅλς (háls, “sea”), literally “(city) on far end of the sea” cf. Ancient Greek παραλία (paralía).