este y oeste
/este i oeste/from spelling rules
The phrase este y oeste is how you say east and west in Spanish.
This phrase refers to the two cardinal directions that are opposite to each other.
Which one should you use?
While este y oeste refers to the cardinal directions, the related terms oriental y occidental are used when referring to the East and West in a cultural, political or historical context, such as Eastern and Western philosophy.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, este is the standard term for east and oeste is the standard term for west.
How do you pronounce it?
/este i oeste/
Did you know?
- The word oeste is a linguistic guest in the Spanish language. Rather than descending from Latin, it was borrowed from the French word 'ouest', which itself traces back to the Old English 'west'.
- The word este is a homonym that can also function as a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this one' (masculine), depending on the context and accentuation.
- When referring to geopolitical regions rather than compass points, Spanish speakers use el Oriente instead of este.
Examples in context
- Los puntos cardinales son: Norte, Sur, Este y Oeste.The cardinal directions are: north, south, east, and west.This sentence is useful for listing the cardinal directions including este y oeste.Tatoeba #1215775 by wallebot, translation #1215778 by wallebot
- Un río divide la ciudad en este y oeste.A river separates the city into east and west.This sentence is useful for describing how a river divides a city into east and west using este y oeste.Tatoeba #967565 by hundo, translation #682002 by Source_VOA
- Mi casa está al este de la ciudadMy house is to the east of the city
- El sol se pone en el oesteThe sun sets in the west
- Está al este de la ciudad.It is to the east of the city.
Example conversation
Maria and Javier are looking at a map together.
- MaríaMira, aquí están el este y oeste.Look, here are the east and west.
- JavierNo veo las marcas en el mapa.I don't see the marks on the map.
- MaríaEstán en los bordes laterales, Javier.They are on the side edges, Javier.
- JavierAh, ya los veo. Gracias, María.Oh, I see them now. Thanks, Maria.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries este, oeste, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
