sureste
/suˈɾeste/masculine
The English phrase "southeast" can be translated into Spanish as sureste. Wiktionary also lists sudeste and sueste.
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sudeste | /suˈdeste/ | masculine |
| sureste | /suˈɾeste/ | masculine |
| sueste | /sweste/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| sudoriente | /sudoɾjente/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| suroriente | /suɾoɾjente/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
All provided forms refer to the compass point southeast. These words are masculine nouns used to describe a specific direction.
What does it mean word for word?
The word sureste is a compound of sur (south) and este (east).
Which one should you use?
While sureste and sudeste are synonyms, sudeste is more commonly used in technical, maritime or meteorological contexts. The form sueste is a shortened, more colloquial version of sureste. Additionally, sudoriente and suroriente are alternative forms for the same direction.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun referring to a compass point, sureste is masculine and typically takes the definite article el.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of sureste is /suˈɾeste/.
Did you know?
- In certain parts of South America, the term oriente is used so frequently that it can become a proper noun for specific geographic regions, such as 'El Oriente'.
- In Spain, the word sueste is often used to describe a specific wind coming from the southeast, rather than just a point on a map.
- In some contexts, oriente does not just mean 'east' but refers to the place where the sun rises, which gives suroriente a poetic quality in literature.
Examples in context
- EEUU ha arrojado millones de bombas de racimo en el sudeste asiático.The US dropped millions of cluster bombs in Southeast Asia.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use sudeste when referring to Southeast Asia.Tatoeba #13218170 by frpzzd, translation #11153665 by Amastan
- El lugar que buscas se ubica en el sureste de la ciudad.The place you're looking for is located in the southeast of the city.
- La tempestad se acerca desde el sureste.The storm is approaching from the southeast.
- La península se encuentra en la región este-sureste del país.The peninsula is located in the east-southeast region of the country.
- El viento sopla desde el este-sureste.The wind is blowing from the east-southeast.
- El viento viene del sureste.The wind comes from the southeast.
- La ciudad está en el sureste del país.The city is in the southeast of the country.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are looking at a map of the coast.
- LucíaMira, la playa está hacia el sureste.Look, the beach is toward the southeast.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Lucía. Está muy cerca.You are right, Lucía. It is very close.
- Lucía¿Crees que llegaremos antes del mediodía?Do you think we will arrive before noon?
- AlejandroSí, si seguimos caminando por aquí.Yes, if we keep walking this way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “southeast” translations and entries sudeste, sureste, sueste, sudoriente, suroriente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
