marquesan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low
UK/mɑːˈkeɪz(ə)n/US/mɑːrˈkeɪzən/

Specialist/Technical

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Quick answer

What does “marquesan” mean?

Of or relating to the Marquesas Islands, their inhabitants, or their language.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Of or relating to the Marquesas Islands, their inhabitants, or their language.

Pertaining to the distinct culture, art, or linguistic features associated with the Marquesas Islands in Polynesia.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in usage; the term is identically applied in both British and American English within specialist fields.

Connotations

Neutral geographical/cultural designation.

Frequency

Equally rare in both varieties.

Grammar

How to Use “marquesan” in a Sentence

[Marquesan] + noun (e.g., Marquesan dialect)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Marquesan languageMarquesan cultureMarquesan islandsMarquesan tattoo
medium
Marquesan artMarquesan dialectMarquesan people
weak
Marquesan originMarquesan historyMarquesan word

Examples

Examples of “marquesan” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The museum acquired a rare Marquesan carving.
  • She is studying Marquesan phonology.

American English

  • The exhibit features traditional Marquesan tattoos.
  • His research focuses on Marquesan folklore.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in anthropology, linguistics, and Polynesian studies.

Everyday

Extremely rare, used only when discussing Polynesia specifically.

Technical

Primary context of use.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “marquesan”

Weak

of the Marquesas

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “marquesan”

  • Misspelling as 'marquezan' or 'marquesian'.
  • Incorrect pluralization when used adjectivally (e.g., 'Marquesans cultures' instead of 'Marquesan cultures').

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a very low-frequency term specific to discussions about the Marquesas Islands and their culture or language.

Yes, as a noun it can denote a native or inhabitant of the Marquesas Islands (e.g., 'The Marquesans are skilled navigators').

The stress is on the second syllable: mar-KAY-zuhn. In British English, the 'r' is less pronounced, while in American English it is more distinct.

Marquesan is a member of the Eastern Polynesian language group, within the larger Austronesian language family.

Of or relating to the Marquesas Islands, their inhabitants, or their language.

Marquesan is usually specialist/technical in register.

Marquesan: in British English it is pronounced /mɑːˈkeɪz(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɑːrˈkeɪzən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of the MARQUEE of a cinema, then add 'san'. The marquee features films from the Marquesan islands.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The language is one of the major Eastern Polynesian dialects.
Multiple Choice

In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'Marquesan'?