rosa de los vientos
/rosa de los bjentos/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "compass rose" is translated into Spanish as rosa de los vientos.
The term refers to a circle indicating directions.
Meaning: a circle indicating directions (noun)
Which one should you use?
A formal alternative is Rosa náutica, which specifically refers to a nautical rose.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a feminine noun phrase.
Did you know?
- In the Spanish language, the concept of wind directions is so deeply tied to this image that the phrase rosa de los vientos can be used metaphorically to describe a wide variety of origins or perspectives.
- The word rosa is not the original evolved form from Latin, but a 'semi-learned' borrowing from Latin *rosa* used to replace the native Old Spanish form *ruesa'.
- While English speakers use 'rose' to describe the shape, the Spanish term rosa de los vientos is a direct nod to the ancient practice of mapping the directions based on the prevailing winds.
Examples in context
- La rosa de los vientos es un elemento crucial en la navegación marítima.The compass rose is a crucial element in maritime navigation.
- Me gusta cómo se ve la roseta náutica en los mapas antiguos.I like how the nautical rose looks on old maps.
- ¡Vamos a decorar el cuarto con una estrella de los vientos!Let's decorate the room with a compass rose!
- La rosa de los vientos está en el mapa.The compass rose is on the map.
- Dibujé una rosa de los vientos en mi cuaderno.I drew a compass rose in my notebook.
- Busca la rosa de los vientos para orientarte.Look for the compass rose to orient yourself.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are studying a nautical map in a library.
- Lucía¿Dónde está la rosa de los vientos en este mapa?Where is the compass rose on this map?
- DanielEstá justo en el centro de la página, Lucía.It is right in the center of the page, Lucía.
- LucíaAh, ya la veo. ¡Gracias, Daniel!Ah, I see it now. Thanks, Daniel!
- DanielDe nada, es muy fácil de encontrar.You're welcome, it is very easy to find.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “compass rose” translations and entries rosa de los vientos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, los, rosa, rosa de los vientos, vientos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
