south
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for south, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The compass direction opposite north.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use south
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English suth, from Proto-Germanic *sunthraz, ultimately related to the Proto-Indo-European root for "sun."
Full origin of south →Frequently asked questions
What does “south” mean?
The word “south” means the compass direction opposite north. In plain terms, the direction opposite north, or a southern region/culture.
How do you pronounce “south”?
“South” is pronounced SOWTH (/ˈsaʊ̯θ/ in IPA).
How do you use “south” in a sentence?
Here is “south” used in a sentence: “The birds migrate south for the winter.”
What part of speech is “south”?
Depending on how it is used, “south” can be a noun, an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “south” come from?
The word “south” comes from Old English. From Old English suth, from Proto-Germanic *sunthraz, ultimately related to the Proto-Indo-European root for "sun.".
Is “south” a common word?
“South” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “south” have?
“South” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the compass direction opposite north.
What is the difference between south and north?
They are opposite compass directions. If you face the rising sun in the east, north is on your left and south is on your right. On most maps south sits at the bottom and north at the top. South points toward the South Pole, the exact reverse of north's heading.
Why is south at the bottom of maps?
By modern convention, mapmakers place north at the top, which puts south at the bottom. This is a custom rather than a law of nature — early maps were oriented in many directions. Because most maps now follow it, "south" has become loosely associated with downward and "north" with upward.
What is the difference between south and the South?
Lowercase "south" is a direction. Capitalised, "the South" names a specific region — for example the southern United States or the south of England — treated as a place with its own identity. So "drive south" gives a direction, while "the South" names a region people live in or come from.
What does it mean when something 'goes south'?
The phrase "go south" means to deteriorate or fail, as in "the deal went south." It likely comes from south's position at the bottom of a map, suggesting a downward turn. Used this way, the direction becomes a figure of speech for decline rather than an actual compass heading.