How to Say "Northwest" in French

nord-ouest

/nɔ.ʁwɛst/masculine

The English phrase "northwest" is translated into French as nord-ouest.

The term refers to the compass point northwest. When using cardinal points in French, they typically follow the noun they are modifying.

Meaning: compass point (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The term nord-ouest is a compound of nord (north) and ouest (west).

As a masculine noun referring to a specific direction or region, it is used with the masculine definite article le, forming le nord-ouest.

/nɔ.ʁwɛst/ (2 syllables)

The word nord comes from the Old Norse norðr, which entered French through the influence of Viking settlements in Normandy, leaving a linguistic footprint in the French compass.
The word ouest is a phonetic evolution of the Latin occidens, meaning 'setting', referring to where the sun sets.
In many French maps and maritime charts, you will see the abbreviation NO instead of the English 'NW' for northwest.

L'aéroport se trouve au nord-ouest de la ville.
The airport is located in the northwest of the city.
La réunion aura lieu dans le secteur nord-ouest de l'usine.
The meeting will take place in the northwest sector of the factory.
On va passer nos vacances dans le nord-ouest de la France.
We're going to spend our vacation in the northwest of France.
Je viens d'un petit village dans le coin nord-ouest du pays.
I come from a small village in the northwest corner of the country.
Le vent vient du nord-ouest.
The wind is coming from the northwest.
Il faut marcher vers le nord-ouest.
We must walk toward the northwest.
Le cap est situé au nord-ouest.
The cape is located to the northwest.

Two hikers are looking at a map in the woods.

Sources

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