norte
/NOR-teh/
north
Norte means north, the cardinal direction often indicated by an upward-pointing arrow on a compass.
norte(Noun)
north
?The cardinal direction
northerly
?Used to describe something from or in the north, e.g., 'viento del norte' (northerly wind)
📝 In Action
La brújula siempre apunta al norte.
A1The compass always points north.
Mi casa está al norte de la ciudad.
A2My house is to the north of the city.
El viento del norte es muy frío.
B1The north wind is very cold.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'el' with Directions
In Spanish, you often use 'el' before cardinal directions like 'el norte' or 'el sur', especially when talking about them as a concept or a region. For example, 'El norte de España es verde' (The north of Spain is green).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Direction vs. Location
Mistake: "'Mi casa está norte de la ciudad.'"
Correction: 'Mi casa está AL norte de la ciudad.' When you want to say something is 'to the north OF' something else, you need the little word 'al'. It's a combination of 'a' (to) and 'el' (the).
⭐ Usage Tips
A Tip to Remember Directions
A simple way to remember the four cardinal directions is the acronym 'NO-S-E', which looks like 'no sé' (I don't know): Norte (North), Oeste (West), Sur (South), Este (East).
When used figuratively, norte refers to a guiding principle or main objective that directs actions.
norte(Noun)
guiding principle
?A main goal or objective
bearing
?One's sense of direction or purpose
,course
?The direction of one's life or actions
,direction
?A clear aim or purpose
📝 In Action
La honestidad es el norte que guía mi vida.
B2Honesty is the guiding principle that guides my life.
Después de la crisis, la empresa perdió el norte.
C1After the crisis, the company lost its way/direction.
Necesitamos un norte claro para este proyecto.
B2We need a clear direction for this project.
⭐ Usage Tips
From Literal to Figurative
Think of this meaning like your personal 'True North' on a compass. It's the fixed point, value, or principle that guides all your other decisions and actions in life or in a project.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: norte
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'norte' to talk about a goal or purpose, not a geographical direction?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people say 'perder el norte'? What does it mean?
It's a popular idiom that literally means 'to lose the north'. Imagine being a sailor whose compass stops pointing north – you'd be completely lost! So, 'perder el norte' means to lose your way, get confused, or start acting erratically without any purpose.
Is it 'el norte' or just 'norte'?
Great question! Both are used. You typically use 'el norte' when talking about the north as a place or a general concept ('El norte tiene montañas'). You might drop 'el' when giving simple, direct commands ('Sigue norte por dos kilómetros'). When in doubt, including 'el' is often the safer choice.