south
UK: saʊθ | US: saʊθ
n. the direction to the right of a person facing the rising sun
adj. situated in or facing the south
adv. toward or in the south
The word "south" traces back to Old English sūþ, derived from Proto-Germanic sunþaz, meaning "sun-side." This reflects the ancient Germanic practice of orienting directions based on the sun's path—south being the "sunny" direction. The Proto-Indo-European root sú-n- (sun) underpins this logic, linking warmth and light to the southern orientation. Over time, the spelling simplified while retaining its core directional meaning.
The birds migrate south for the winter.
She lives on the south coast of England.
Turn south at the next intersection.
The south wind brought warmer temperatures.
Their house has a beautiful south-facing garden.