01
der Ost
east
The cardinal direction east. Often used in geographical, meteorological, or political contexts.
example
Die Fenster unseres Schlafzimmers gehen nach Ost.
Our bedroom windows face east.
der Ost
east
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
'Ost' (east) is the basis for many geographical terms. It is found as the first part in compound words such as 'Osteuropa' (Eastern Europe), 'Ostsee' (Baltic Sea), or 'Ostküste' (east coast).
EXAMPLE
Die Ostsee ist ein beliebtes Urlaubsziel in Norddeutschland.
The Baltic Sea is a popular vacation destination in northern Germany.
Use as a direction
As a cardinal direction, 'Ost' (east) is often used without an article after prepositions such as 'nach' (to/toward), 'aus' (from), or 'gegen' (against/toward). This is typical when giving directions, especially in seafaring or meteorology.
EXAMPLE
Das Schiff fährt genau nach Ost.
The ship is sailing due east.
Context clue
When 'Ost' (east/east wind) refers to the wind, it almost always appears with the definite article 'der'. The cardinal direction, by contrast, is often used without an article after a preposition.
EXAMPLE
Der scharfe Ost brachte uns sehr kalte Tage.
The sharp east wind brought us very cold days.
Compare with
Ost vs Osten
east
'der Osten' and 'der Ost' can both mean the cardinal direction east. 'der Osten' is the normal form in everyday language, especially when talking about directions or parts of a country. 'der Ost' sounds more specialized and often appears in fixed geographical, political, or meteorological contexts. In addition, 'der Ost' can also mean a wind from the east. Learners may confuse the words because both belong to the same direction. As a simple guideline: for normal sentences, 'der Osten' is usually the safe choice; 'der Ost' fits more in technical language or fixed expressions.
Ost
Wenn der Ost stärker wird, bleibt es an der Küste kühl.
When the east wind gets stronger, it stays cool on the coast.
Osten
Im Osten des Landes gibt es im Winter oft viel Schnee.
In the east of the country, there is often a lot of snow in winter.
In real life
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