01
der Nordost
northeast
The compass direction exactly between north and east. Also called 'Nordosten' in German.
example
Der Wind weht heute aus Nordost.
The wind is blowing from the northeast today.
der Nordost
northeast
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'Nord' (north) and 'Ost' (east). All compound compass directions, e.g. 'Südwest' (southwest), 'Südost' (southeast), are formed according to this pattern and are masculine.
EXAMPLE
Mein Fenster zeigt genau nach Nordost.
My window faces exactly northeast.
Context clue
The use of the article helps distinguish the meaning. As a pure compass direction, 'Nordost' (northeast) often appears without an article, while the geographic region almost always has the article 'der' (the).
EXAMPLE
Die Vögel fliegen im Herbst Richtung Südwest.
The birds fly toward the southwest in autumn.
Use as a direction
When 'Nordost' (northeast) indicates a direction, it is often used with the preposition 'aus' (from) to describe where wind or weather is coming from.
EXAMPLE
Morgen dreht der Wind auf Nordost.
Tomorrow the wind will shift to the northeast.
Use as a region
When a geographic area is meant, a more precise specification often follows with the genitive or 'von' (of/from), for example 'der Nordost Deutschlands' (the northeast of Germany) or 'der Nordost von Spanien' (the northeast of Spain).
EXAMPLE
Im Nordost des Landes gibt es viele Seen.
In the northeast of the country, there are many lakes.
Compare with
Nordost vs Osten
east
'Osten' and 'Nordost' both describe a direction or part of an area. 'Osten' is one of the four cardinal directions and is where the sun rises. 'Nordost' lies between north and east. So it is more precise than 'Osten' when the direction does not go directly east, but somewhat toward the north. The words can be confused because both contain the element 'Ost'. If you only mean the general direction, 'Osten' fits. If you mean the direction between north and east, 'Nordost' is correct.
Nordost
In der E-Mail beschreibt Paul den Nordost der Insel als besonders ruhig.
In the email, Paul describes the northeast of the island as especially quiet.
Osten
Am Morgen kommt das Licht aus dem Osten in die Küche.
In the morning, the light comes into the kitchen from the east.
In real life
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