Atlas Mountains

/ˈætləs ˈmaʊntɪnz/

proper noun

A mountain range in northwestern Africa, occupying portions of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

OriginArabic جِبَال الأَطْلَس ← Ancient Greek Ἄτλας →
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Meanings

proper nounthe Atlas Mountains pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlyA mountain range in northwestern Africa, occupying portions of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekἌτλας
  2. Arabicجِبَال الأَطْلَس
  3. EnglishAtlas Mountains

Calque of Arabic جِبَال الأَطْلَس (jibāl al-ʔaṭlas), ultimately from the Ancient Greek Ἄτλας (Átlas), stemming from the belief that the mountain range is actually the body of the Titan Atlas after being turned to stone.

More words from Arabic, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic جِبَال الأَطْلَس
  • جِبَال الأَطْلَس (jibāl al-ʔaṭlas)Atlas Mountains
Dutch Atlasgebergte
  • AtlasgebergteAtlas Mountains
Finnish Atlasvuoret, Atlas-vuoristo
  • AtlasvuoretAtlas Mountains
  • Atlas-vuoristoAtlas Mountains
German Atlasgebirge
  • AtlasgebirgeAtlas Mountains
Greek Όρη Άτλαντα
  • Όρη Άτλαντα (Óri Átlanta)Atlas Mountains
Hungarian Atlasz
  • AtlaszAtlas Mountains
Japanese アトラス山脈
  • アトラス山脈 (Atorasu-sanmyaku)Atlas Mountains
Portuguese cordilheira do Atlas
  • cordilheira do AtlasAtlas Mountains
Spanish Atlas
  • AtlasAtlas Mountains
Swedish Atlasbergen
  • AtlasbergenAtlas Mountains
Vietnamese dãy núi Atlas
  • dãy núi AtlasAtlas Mountains
Cite this entry
APA

Atlas Mountains. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Atlas%20Mountains

MLA

“Atlas Mountains.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Atlas%20Mountains. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Atlas Mountains,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Atlas%20Mountains.

Source: Atlas Mountains on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.