oeste
/oˈeste/masculine
In Spanish, the English word west is translated as oeste. If unsure, use oeste. Wiktionary also lists poniente and occidente.
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oeste | /oˈeste/ | masculine |
| poniente | /poˈnjente/ | |
| occidente | /oɡθiˈdente/ /oɡsiˈdente/ |
The term oeste is used as a noun to denote the compass point. When you are referring to a specific western region, such as the American West, you should use the definite article el before the word, as in el oeste.
Which one should you use?
While oeste is the standard term for the compass direction, poniente is a poetic or literary term specifically referring to the west where the sun sets. In a geopolitical or cultural sense, such as referring to Western civilization, the word occidente is typically used instead of a simple compass direction.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something is located 'to the west of' a specific place, use the phrase al oeste de.
How do you pronounce it?
/oˈeste/
Did you know?
- While oeste is the standard word for 'west', it is actually a loanword from French, which in turn borrowed it from Old English.
- The root of occidente is the Latin 'occidere', which means 'to fall', describing the sun falling below the horizon.
- In certain coastal Spanish-speaking contexts, el poniente can refer specifically to the prevailing westerly wind that blows toward the land.
Examples in context
- Tom se fue al oeste.Tom went west.This sentence shows how to use oeste to indicate a direction.Tatoeba #9564657 by hayastan, translation #1140875 by CK
- Soy de la costa oeste.I'm from the West Coast.This sentence demonstrates the use of oeste in the context of a specific region.Tatoeba #4762530 by DarkHollow, translation #1912020 by Spamster
- Soy del oeste del este.I am west of the east.This sentence shows the use of oeste to indicate a relative position.Tatoeba #1477973 by marcelostockle, translation #704729 by Zifre
- El sol se pone en el oeste.The sun sets in the west.
- La ciudad está situada al poniente de aquí.The city is located to the west of here.
- Vamos a viajar hacia el oeste este fin de semana.We are going to travel west this weekend.
- ¿Sabes si está lloviendo en el occidente del país?Do you know if it's raining in the west part of the country?
- El río corre hacia el oeste.The river flows westward.
- Las casas están al oeste de la ciudad.The houses are to the west of the city.
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are hiking in the mountains.
- JavierEl sol se pone por el oeste.The sun sets in the west.
- SofíaEntonces debemos caminar hacia el este.Then we should walk towards the east.
- JavierMira, el camino hacia el oeste está bloqueado.Look, the path to the west is blocked.
- SofíaNo te preocupes, yo tengo un mapa.Don't worry, I have a map.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “west” translations and entries oeste, poniente, occidente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries occidente, oeste, poniente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
