Osten
/ˈɔstən/masculine
The German word for east is Osten. Wiktionary also lists Ost and Oschte.
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Osten | /ˈɔstən/ /ˈɔstn̩/ |
masculine |
| Ost | /ɔst/ | masculine |
| Oschte | Alemannic German, masculine | |
| Oschta | Alemannic German |
Osten is a masculine noun used to refer to the compass point. For example, one might refer to the Osten or Orient to mean the Eastern world. Related to this, the adjective östlich is used to mean 'eastern'.
Which one should you use?
Use Osten when referring to the direction or the region as a noun in a sentence. While Osten is the standard, Oschte and Oschta are dialectal variations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-German dialects, you may encounter Oschte or Oschta instead of the standard Osten.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard German, the cardinal directions follow a pattern: Osten is east, Westen is west, Norden is north and Süden is south. The adjective for eastern is östlich.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɔstən/
Did you know?
- In German, the noun Osten can refer to the compass point and also specifically to the former territories of the GDR or Eastern Europe.
- While the Latin word 'auster' originally referred to the south, it is a distant relative of the Germanic 'Osten' through a process of re-orientation in ancient times.
- The German word Ost is a direct cognate of the English word 'east', meaning they descended from the same prehistoric ancestor word.
Examples in context
- Tom zog gen Osten.Tom headed east.This sentence shows the use of Osten for direction.Tatoeba #9941559 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9940188 by CK
- Wir gehen nach Osten.We're going east.This sentence demonstrates heading towards the Osten.Tatoeba #2668012 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2240775 by CK
- Der Wind weht aus Ost.The wind is blowing from the east.This sentence shows how to use Ost when describing the wind's direction.Tatoeba #1611275 by Esperantostern, translation #319709 by CK
- Der OstenThe East
- In Richtung Osten gehenGo towards the east
- Da, wo die Sonne aufgehtWhere the sun rises
- 109 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A hiking trip in the mountains.
- MaximilianSiehst du die Sonne im Osten?Do you see the sun in the east?
- LauraJa, sie geht gerade im Osten auf.Yes, it is rising right now in the east.
- MaximilianDann müssen wir nach Westen wandern.Then we have to hike towards the west.
- LauraDer Weg nach Westen ist sehr steil.The path to the west is very steep.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “east” translations and entries Osten, Ost, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ost, Osten, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
