Ways to say it
| Latin | Note |
|---|---|
| septentriō | masculine |
| boreās | masculine |
Both words function as masculine nouns to denote the compass point north. Related adjectives can also be used depending on whether you are describing something as being 'northern' or specifically describing a wind that comes from the north.
What does it mean word for word?
The term septentriō is etymologically related to the concept of 'the seven oxen', which refers to the seven stars of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) used for navigation.
Which one should you use?
septentriō is a common noun for the north often used in formal or descriptive contexts. In contrast, boreās is more poetic or mythological in nature. For the adjective 'northern', the standard form is septentrionalis, though borēus and borealis are also used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms septentriō and boreās are both masculine nouns. The adjective borealis can specifically be used in meteorology to mean 'of wind, from the north'.
Did you know?
- While septentriō refers to the north, the word meridies for south literally means 'midday', because the sun is highest in the southern sky for Romans.
- The word boreās comes from the Greek god of the north wind, who was often depicted as a winged man with a cold beard and a cloak of frost.
- Modern English scientific terms like 'borealis' in 'Aurora Borealis' are direct descendants of the Latin boreās, which originally referred to the north wind.
Examples in context
- Corēa Septentriōnālis prope Iapōniam sita est.North Korea is located near Japan.This sentence uses septentriō to show how the word functions in a geographical context.Tatoeba #11578597 by alexmarcelo, translation #9120554 by fluffyUser
Example conversation
Quintus and Lucia are looking at a map.
- QuintusUbi est urbs, Lucia?Where is the city, Lucia?
- LuciaUrbs in septentriōne est.The city is in the north.
- QuintusEstne longē a nōbis?Is it far from us?
- LuciaIta, multās hōrās abest.Yes, it is many hours away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “north” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
