oeste

/oh-EHS-teh/

west

A vibrant illustration of a large orange sun setting directly over a flat horizon line, casting warm colors across the sky.

The setting sun is a common visual cue for the oeste (west), one of the four cardinal directions.

oeste(noun)

mA1

west

A cardinal direction

Also:

occident

Literary or formal term for the West

📝 In Action

El sol se pone por el oeste.

The sun sets in the west.

Vamos a viajar al oeste de España.

We are going to travel to the west of Spain.

Para llegar al museo, debes dirigirte hacia el oeste.

To get to the museum, you must head toward the west.

Word Connections

Synonyms

poniente (west (where the sun sets))
occidente (the West (general term))

Antonyms

este (east)
oriente (east (general term))

Common Collocations

al oeste de – to the west of
viento del oeste – west wind

💡 Grammar Points

Gender is Always Masculine

All four main directions (norte, sur, este, oeste) are masculine nouns, so you must use 'el' before them when speaking generally: 'el oeste'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing East and West

Mistake: "Using 'este' when you mean 'oeste'."

Correction: 'Oeste' is for West (O), like the letter 'O' is round. 'Este' is for East (E).

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Article

Unlike English, Spanish usually requires the article 'el' when referring to the direction itself (e.g., 'el oeste es frío').

An illustration of a tall saguaro cactus alone in a sparse, reddish desert under a clear, bright blue sky.

This illustration depicts a landscape typical of a region that is considered oeste (western).

oeste(adjective)

m/fA2

western

Describing something located in the west

Also:

west (coast, side, etc.)

Used to modify a noun, often geographically

📝 In Action

La costa oeste es más rocosa que la este.

The western coast is rockier than the eastern one.

Sopla un fuerte viento oeste.

A strong west wind is blowing.

Necesitas tomar la carretera de dirección oeste.

You need to take the road heading in a western direction.

Word Connections

Synonyms

occidental (western (more formal adjective))

Antonyms

este (eastern)
oriental (eastern (more formal adjective))

Common Collocations

zona oeste – western zone
lado oeste – west side

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Placement and Form

When 'oeste' is used as an adjective (meaning 'western'), it usually comes after the noun and stays the same regardless of whether the noun is singular or plural, feminine or masculine.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Feminine Form

Mistake: "Saying 'costa oesta' for 'western coast'."

Correction: The word 'oeste' (western) does not change to match the feminine noun 'costa.' It remains 'costa oeste.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Descriptions

For more formal writing or when describing concepts like 'Western culture,' use the adjective 'occidental' instead of 'oeste'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: oeste

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'oeste' as a noun?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

occidente(The West (cultural/historical concept)) - noun

occidental(western) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'oeste' always masculine, even when describing a feminine place?

Yes. When 'oeste' is the noun meaning the direction, it is always 'el oeste' (masculine). When it functions as an adjective (like in 'costa oeste'), it generally stays the same and does not change form to match the feminine noun 'costa'.

What is the difference between 'oeste' and 'occidente'?

'Oeste' simply refers to the geographical direction (West). 'Occidente' is a more formal noun often used to refer to 'The West' as a cultural, historical, or political region (e.g., the Western world).