Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| merīdiēs | masculine | |
| auster | [ˈau̯s.tɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈau̯s.ter] (narrow) |
masculine |
| regio australis | [ˈrɛ.ɡi.oː au̯sˈtraː.lɪs] (Classical Latin, word by word, narrow) | feminine |
In Latin, the term used for south depends on whether you are discussing a compass point, a wind or a specific region. For standard navigational or astronomical contexts, merīdiēs is the term for the direction south. To describe something as being of or pertaining to the south, use the adjective australis.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun merīdiēs is etymologically derived from the concept of midday, referring to the time when the sun is at its highest point in the south.
Which one should you use?
While merīdiēs refers to the compass point, auster is a poetic term often used specifically to refer to the south wind. For a specific region, the feminine phrase regio australis can be used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective australis must agree in gender, number and case with the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- The adjective australis is the ancestor of the English name 'Australia'.
- The Latin word merīdiēs is the root of the English word 'meridian' and the French word 'midi' for 'noon'.
- The word auster shares a common ancestor with the English word 'east'.
Examples in context
- Inde, ubi prima fides pelago, placataque venti / dant maria, et lenis crepitans vocat auster in altum, / deducunt socii naves et litora complent. / Provehimur portu, terræque urbesque recedunt.Soon as our ships can trust the deep once more, / and South-winds chide, and Ocean smiles serene, / we crowd the beach, and launch, and town and shore / fade from our view.This sentence is useful for seeing how auster is used to describe the south wind.Tatoeba #6946509 by carlosalberto, translation #6946882 by carlosalberto
- Urbs Romana est ad meridiemThe city of Rome is to the south
- Navigavimus ad austrosWe sailed to the south
- Sum meridiolanusI am from the south
Example conversation
Aurelia and Marcus are discussing their travel directions.
- AureliaQuo versus ibimus, Marce?In which direction are we going, Marcus?
- MarcusAd merīdiem pergimus.We are proceeding toward the south.
- AureliaEstne via recta?Is the road straight?
- MarcusIta, via ad merīdiem recta est.Yes, the road to the south is straight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “south” translations and entries auster, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (regio, australis) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auster, australis, regio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
