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noun B1 Intermediate Common

southeast

saw-THIHYST

Southeast (noun) means the direction exactly between south and east. Example: “The storm is moving to the southeast.”

noun
1
The direction exactly between south and east.
"The storm is moving to the southeast."
adjective
1
Situated toward or coming from the southeast.
"A southeast wind picked up in the afternoon."

How to use southeast

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe direction halfway between south and east.

Common pairings
southeast corner southeast Asia

Word forms

more southeast comparative, further southeast comparative, farther southeast comparative, southeasts plural, most southeast superlative, furthest southeast superlative, farthest southeast superlative

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Test yourself on “southeast” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The storm is moving to the _____.

Etymology

From Old English sutheast, a straightforward combination of south and east.

Origin: Old English

SE sou'-east southeastward

Related words

Rhymes for southeast

See all rhymes for southeast →

Frequently asked questions

What does “southeast” mean?

The word “southeast” means the direction exactly between south and east. In plain terms, the direction halfway between south and east.

How do you pronounce “southeast”?

“Southeast” is pronounced saw-THIHYST (/sawˈθɪjst/ in IPA).

How do you use “southeast” in a sentence?

Here is “southeast” used in a sentence: “The storm is moving to the southeast.”

What part of speech is “southeast”?

Depending on how it is used, “southeast” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “southeast” come from?

The word “southeast” comes from Old English. From Old English sutheast, a straightforward combination of south and east.

Is “southeast” a common word?

“Southeast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “southeast” have?

“Southeast” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the direction exactly between south and east.

What is the difference between southeast and south-southeast?

Southeast is the direction exactly halfway between south and east, at 135 degrees on a compass. South-southeast lies between south and southeast, at about 157.5 degrees, so it is closer to due south.

Is 'southeast' written as one word or hyphenated?

In American English it is usually written as one word, 'southeast', while British English often hyphenates it as 'south-east'. Both forms refer to the same direction.

How do you abbreviate southeast?

Southeast is commonly abbreviated as 'SE' on compasses, maps, and in addresses. The lowercase form 'se' is not standard for this purpose.

When is 'southeast' capitalised?

As a plain direction, 'southeast' is written in lower case, as in 'drive southeast'. It is capitalised when it forms part of a proper name for a region, such as 'the Southeast' referring to a specific recognised area.

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