उत्तर
úttara/út.tɐ.ɾɐ/
The Sanskrit word for north is उत्तर (úttara).
उत्तर is used to refer to the compass point north. It is the formal term for this direction.
Meaning: compass point (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word úttara literally means 'later' or 'subsequent' in addition to its directional meaning of 'northern'.
Which one should you use?
In the context of cardinal directions, उत्तर (north) serves as the direct counterpart to दक्षिण (south).
How does it change in a sentence?
The term can be used in compounds such as उत्तरायण, which describes the sun's northern movement (the northern course of the sun) between the winter and summer solstices.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /út.tɐ.ɾɐ/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word उत्तर is a homonym that also means 'answer' or 'reply' in Sanskrit.
- The word उत्तर is a linguistic relative of the English word 'after', as both stem from a concept of being 'later' in a sequence.
- The term उत्तरायण describes the sun's path to the 'north', and it is considered a spiritually auspicious period in the Hindu calendar.
Examples in context
- उत्तरतः गच्छ।uttarataḥ gaccha.Go towards the north.
Example conversation
Vivan and Mira are looking at a map together.
- विवान Vivaanमीरे, अत्र उत्तरदिशा कुत्र अस्ति?mīre, atra uttaradiśā kutra asti?Mira, where is the north direction here?
- मीरा Miraविवान, उत्तरदिशा उपरि अस्ति।vivān, uttaradiśā upari asti.Vivan, the north direction is at the top.
- विवान Vivaanकिं वयं उत्तरं गच्छामः?kiṃ vayaṃ uttaraṃ gacchāmaḥ?Are we going north?
- मीरा Miraआम्, वयं उत्तरं गच्छामः।ām, vayaṃ uttaraṃ gacchāmaḥ.Yes, we are going north.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry उत्तर, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries उत्तर, CC BY-SA 4.0.
