caribbean
caribbean — adjective
1. coming from, found in, or connected with the group of islands between North and
coming from, found in, or connected with the group of islands between North and South America that form the region known as the Caribbean — including places such as Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad.
The resort offers guided tours to several Caribbean islands for snorkelling and diving.
always before a noun: Caribbean + noun
My aunt moved to a small Caribbean nation after she retired from teaching.
collocation: Caribbean nation / islands
Caribbean cuisine often includes rice, beans, fresh fish, and plenty of spices.
A warm Caribbean breeze blew through the open windows of the beach house.
Tourists come from all over the world to enjoy Caribbean beaches and music festivals.
- West Indian
more specific regional reference, usually to the islands of the West Indies rather than mainland coastal areas.
文法句型
Caribbean + noun
用法筆記
Always used attributively before a noun. Compare with noun sense 1 (the Caribbean as a region): you can visit 'Caribbean islands' (using the adjective) or 'the Caribbean' (using the noun).
常見錯誤
caribbean — noun
1. the geographic and cultural area made up of the island nations scattered across
the geographic and cultural area made up of the island nations scattered across the Caribbean Sea plus the nearby mainland coasts of Central and South America.
Leila spent a year travelling around the Caribbean, visiting over a dozen different islands.
collocation: around / across / throughout the Caribbean
The Caribbean is known for its reggae music, carnival celebrations, and colourful architecture.
Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June through November each year.
Trade between the Caribbean and Europe has grown steadily over the past decade.
Small hotels throughout the Caribbean offer visitors a taste of local island life.
- West Indies
more specific — refers only to the islands, not mainland Caribbean coasts.
文法句型
the Caribbean
用法筆記
The most common noun use. Always takes a definite article ('the Caribbean'). Compare with adjective sense 1: 'Caribbean food' (adj) vs 'the food of the Caribbean' (noun sense 1). This sense includes both islands and mainland coastal areas — for the sea only, see noun sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. the warm ocean that lies between Central America to its west and South America t
the warm ocean that lies between Central America to its west and South America to its south, with the Atlantic Ocean beyond the chain of islands to its north and east.
The cruise ship crossed the Caribbean in three days, stopping at four different ports.
always 'the Caribbean' when referring to the sea
Warm currents in the Caribbean help keep the beaches of Cancun pleasant all year round.
Sailfish and dolphins are common sights for fishermen working in the Caribbean.
Hurricanes that form over the Caribbean can gain strength before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
文法句型
the Caribbean
用法筆記
Always takes a definite article ('the Caribbean'). When the full name 'the Caribbean Sea' is used, 'Sea' is capitalised. This sense refers only to the water body — for the land region, see noun sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. a person who comes from any of the islands or countries inside the Caribbean reg
a person who comes from any of the islands or countries inside the Caribbean region, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the Dominican Republic.
My grandmother is a Caribbean who moved to Toronto in the 1970s.
The festival brought together Caribbean people from Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad.
plural: Caribbean people (groups of people from the region)
Many Caribbean people now live in cities like London, New York, and Miami.
As a first-generation Caribbean, he grew up speaking both English and Spanish at home.
- West Indian
specifically refers to people from the West Indies islands, not mainland Caribbean countries.
文法句型
a Caribbean
Caribbean people
用法筆記
Less common than the adjective form. When referring to a person of Caribbean heritage, speakers more often use a specific nationality (Jamaican, Cuban) or say 'Caribbean person.' The plural form 'Caribbean people' is more natural than the bare plural 'Caribbeans.'