01
der Nordwesten
northwest
The compass direction that lies exactly between north and west.
example
Die Wolken ziehen aus dem Nordwesten auf, es wird wohl bald regnen.
The clouds are moving in from the northwest; it will probably rain soon.
der Nordwesten
northwest
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
The word is composed directly from the compass directions 'Nord' (north) and 'Westen' (west). The other intermediate compass directions, such as 'Nordosten' (northeast), 'Südwesten' (southwest), and 'Südosten' (southeast), are formed according to the same pattern.
EXAMPLE
Wir fahren dieses Jahr in den Nordwesten von Frankreich in den Urlaub.
This year we are going on vacation to the northwest of France.
Place and direction
Pay attention to the preposition and case: 'im Nordwesten' (in the northwest, dative) describes a position, while 'in den Nordwesten' (to/into the northwest, accusative) indicates a direction. Origin is expressed with 'aus dem Nordwesten' (from the northwest, dative).
EXAMPLE
Er wohnt im Nordwesten der Stadt.
He lives in the northwest of the city.
Geographic context
To describe a geographic part, 'Nordwesten' (northwest) is often used with the preposition 'von' (of/from) or the genitive. Typical phrases are 'der Nordwesten von Deutschland' (the northwest of Germany) or 'Deutschlands Nordwesten' (Germany's northwest).
EXAMPLE
Der Nordwesten von Spanien ist für sein mildes, feuchtes Klima bekannt.
The northwest of Spain is known for its mild, humid climate.
Compare with
Nordwesten vs Westen
west
'der Westen' and 'der Nordwesten' can both describe a direction or a part of an area. The difference is the exact location: 'der Westen' is generally to the west, while 'der Nordwesten' lies between north and west. Learners may confuse the words because 'Nordwesten' contains the word 'Westen'. For a rough direction, 'der Westen' is often enough. If you want to say that something is both west and north, use 'der Nordwesten'. Also, 'der Westen' can have a political or cultural meaning; 'der Nordwesten' normally does not.
Nordwesten
Im Nordwesten ziehen am Nachmittag dunkle Wolken auf.
In the northwest, dark clouds are gathering in the afternoon.
Westen
Der Westen des Landes ist für seine großen Städte bekannt.
The west of the country is known for its large cities.
In real life
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