south
SOWTH
South (noun) means the compass direction opposite north. Example: “The birds migrate south for the winter.”
noun
1
The compass direction opposite north.
"The birds migrate south for the winter."
"The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, not the south."
"Turn left at the church and drive towards the south until you reach the bridge."
2
A region lying in the southern part of a country or continent, along with its people and culture.
"He grew up in the South and still has the accent."
"Many people from the south of the country enjoy milder winters."
"The south has a reputation for slow, friendly hospitality."
adjective
1
Situated in or facing the south.
"They bought a house with a south-facing garden."
"The south entrance of the park is closer to the station."
"A south wind brought warm air across the valley this morning."
adverb
1
Toward the south.
"The birds fly south every autumn to find warmer weather."
"We drove south along the coast until it got dark."
"The road heads south for about ten miles before splitting."
How to use south
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe direction opposite north, or a southern region/culture.
Common mistake
"Go south" is also used figuratively to mean "get worse" — "the deal went south."
Common pairings
head south
the Deep South
south of the border
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Word forms
- Plural
- souths
- Third person singular
- souths
- Past tense
- southed
- Comparative
- further south, farther south
- Superlative
- furthest south, farthest south
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The birds migrate _____ for the winter.
Etymology
From Old English suth, from Proto-Germanic *sunthraz, ultimately related to the Proto-Indo-European root for "sun."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for south
mouth
youth
uncouth
vermouth
badmouth
Plymouth
Falmouth
bigmouth
loudmouth
Dartmouth
Portsmouth
Bournemouth
See all rhymes for 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.
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