In the Arab World, Tripoli is also known as '''Tripoli-of-the-West''' ( ), to distinguish it from its sister city Tripoli, Lebanon, known in Arabic as  (), meaning 'Levantine Tripoli'. It is affectionately called "The Mermaid of the Mediterranean" ( ; lit: 'bride of the sea'), describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means 'Three Cities', introduced in Western European languages through the Italian . In Arabic, it is called ,  (; Libyan Arabic: , ; Berber: , from  , from ).