Dardanelles

American  

[dahr-dn-elz] / ˌdɑr dnˈɛlz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. the strait between European and Asian Turkey, connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. 40 miles (64 km) long; 1–5 miles (1.6–8 km) wide.

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Dardanelles British  

/ ˌdɑːdəˈnɛlz /

noun

1. Ancient name: Hellespont.  the strait between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara, separating European from Asian Turkey

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Example Sentences

Physical chokepoints include waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz or the Bosporus and Dardanelles, which connect the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, and thus Russian and Ukrainian grain exports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

He added the Dardanelles Strait, a waterway linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, was closed to allow water-dropping planes and helicopters to operate safely.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

Authorities also suspended maritime traffic through the narrow Dardanelles Strait linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, which the water-dropping aircraft were using to refill, the minister said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2023

Eight tankers were also waiting for passage through the Dardanelles strait into the Mediterranean, down from nine a day earlier, Tribeca said, making a total of 28 tankers waiting for southbound passage.

From Reuters • Dec. 9, 2022

We ran by Gibraltar wi’oot bein’ able to signal; an’ till we came to the Dardanelles and had to wait to get our permit to pass, we never were within hail o’ aught.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker