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Meltemi

Winds
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Meltemi is the modern Greek name for the strong, dry northerly summer wind of the Aegean Sea, also known as the Etesian, bringing relief from heat and clear skies.

Detailed Definition
The meltemi is a beloved feature of Greek summers, sweeping from the north with refreshing vigour. It is a wind of tourism, of sailing, of bright whitewashed houses and shimmering sea. In contemporary Greek poetry, the meltemi is a symbol of national character—resilient, life-giving, and deeply tied to the marine identity. Its constancy is a source of comfort, yet its force can be relentless. Poets evoke it to represent the clarity of Mediterranean light, the bittersweet beauty of summer, and the eternal rhythm of the islands, where life bends to the wind's persistent push.
Example
Example in poetry:
Meltemi|Meltemi is the modern Greek name for the strong, dry northerly summer wind of the Aegean Sea, also known as the Etesian, bringing relief from heat and clear skies.|The meltemi is a beloved feature of Greek summers, sweeping from the north with refreshing vigour. It is a wind of tourism, of sailing, of bright whitewashed houses and shimmering sea. In contemporary Greek poetry, the meltemi is a symbol of national character—resilient, life-giving, and deeply tied to the marine identity. Its constancy is a source of comfort, yet its force can be relentless. Poets evoke it to represent the clarity of Mediterranean light and the eternal rhythm of the islands.;
Additional Notes
The meltemi is the modern Greek name for the strong, dry northerly summer wind of the Aegean Sea, also known as the Etesian. It is a beloved feature of Greek summers, sweeping from the north with refreshing vigour, a wind of tourism, sailing, and bright, whitewashed houses. In contemporary Greek poetry, the meltemi is a symbol of national character—resilient, life-giving, and deeply tied to the marine identity. Its constancy is a source of comfort, yet its force can be relentless. Poets evoke it to represent the clarity of Mediterranean light, the bittersweet beauty of summer, and the eternal rhythm of the islands, where life bends to the wind's persistent push. When writing about the meltemi, emphasize its refreshing power, its constancy, and its role as a defining feature of the Greek summer, a wind that carries the scent of the sea and the promise of clear, bright days.
Also Known As
Etesian
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