southeast

southeast — noun

1. the compass point located halfway along the arc that runs from south around to e

1.nounB1
Definition

the compass point located halfway along the arc that runs from south around to east, or the general area lying in that direction.

Example

The wind shifted and began blowing from the southeast just before the storm hit.

from the southeast — direction of origin

Linh checked her compass and turned to face the southeast before continuing.

the southeast — specific compass point

Common collocations
  • the southeast
  • to the southeast
  • from the southeast
  • toward the southeast
Synonyms
  • southeastward

    used as a noun only in very formal or technical contexts

  • SE

    abbreviation used on maps and in coordinates

Antonyms
  • northwest

    the opposite compass point, halfway between north and west

Grammar Patterns

the southeast

from the southeast

toward the southeast

Usage Note

In directional use, the phrase 'the southeast' behaves like a proper place — it nearly always takes the definite article. 'To the southeast' indicates relative position; 'from the southeast' indicates origin of movement or wind.

Common Mistakes

The birds flew southeast direction.
The birds flew toward the southeast.
Southeast is already a direction; adding 'direction' is redundant.
He lives southeast of Taipei.' (when you mean a general area)
He lives to the southeast of Taipei.
Use 'to the' for relative position.

2. the area within a nation, state, or urban centre that is positioned in the south

2.nounB1
Definition

the area within a nation, state, or urban centre that is positioned in the southeastern portion.

Example

The southeast of France is famous for its lavender fields and sunny weather.

the southeast of [country] — regional reference

Felix moved to the southeast of the city because the rent was lower there.

Common collocations
  • the southeast of
  • in the southeast
  • the Southeast
  • the southeast corner
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the southeast of [place]

in the southeast

from the southeast

Usage Note

When used as a proper regional name (e.g. 'the Southeast' of the US), the word is often capitalised. As a descriptive area within a single city or smaller region, it is usually lowercase.

Common Mistakes

I visited Southeast of England.
I visited the southeast of England.
The definite article 'the' is required before the region.

southeast — adjective

southeast — adverb

Word family

  • southeastern
    adjectiveB1
  • southeastward
    adverbB2
  • southeastward
    adjectiveB2
  • southeastwards
    adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Southeast' (noun) names a fixed compass point halfway between south and east and is the everyday word for general direction. 'Southeastern' is an adjective used mainly for broad regions — 'southeastern Taiwan' sounds natural, but 'southeastern corner of the table' does not. 'Southeastward' (adverb or adjective) focuses on motion toward the southeast and sounds more formal or technical, as in 'the army marched southeastward'. 'South-easterly' (chiefly British) can be both an adjective and adverb, and is the standard term in UK weather reports for wind direction ('a south-easterly wind'). For everyday use by learners, 'southeast' as a noun or adverb is the most versatile and widely understood choice. For example, 'We drove southeast' (adverb) is simpler than 'We drove in a southeasterly direction'.

southeast ↗southeastern ↗southeastwardsouth-easterly

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the southeast
  • the southeast coast
  • the southeast corner
  • southeast Asia

Adverbs

  • directly southeast
  • roughly southeast
  • about southeast

Phrases

  • the southeast of
  • toward the southeast
  • southeast by south

Prepositions

  • from the southeast
  • to the southeast (of)
  • in the southeast (of)

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Southeast' comes from Old English 'sūþēast', a combination of 'sūþ' (south, from Proto-Germanic *sunþrą) and 'ēast' (east, from Proto-Germanic *austrą, meaning 'toward the sunrise'). The word has been used for the compass point since before the 12th century. Its structure mirrors other compound directions (northeast, southwest, northwest) that formed in early Germanic languages as navigation and trade expanded.