Inklingo
← Dictionary

sur

soor/suɾ/

“sur” means “south” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

south

Also: the South
NounmA1
A simple storybook scene depicting the cardinal direction 'south.' A bright, hot sun is low in the sky, casting long shadows across a warm, arid landscape with a single palm tree.

📝 In Action

Para llegar a la playa, tienes que conducir hacia el sur.

A1

To get to the beach, you have to drive toward the south.

El Polo Sur es el punto más al sur del planeta Tierra.

A2

The South Pole is the southernmost point on planet Earth.

En el sur de Chile hay muchos glaciares increíbles.

A2

In the south of Chile there are many incredible glaciers.

Word Connections

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • al sur de – to the south of
  • Polo Sur – South Pole
  • viento del sur – south wind

southern

Also: south
Adjectivem/f (invariable)A2
A close-up, simple illustration of a ripe, bright yellow lemon hanging from a branch surrounded by dark green leaves, representing characteristics related to southern regions.

📝 In Action

Mañana tendremos un viento sur que traerá calor.

A2

Tomorrow we will have a southern wind that will bring heat.

Hay muchas ciudades en la costa sur de Europa.

B1

There are many cities on the southern coast of Europe.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • meridional (southern)

Antonyms

  • norte (northern (as modifier))

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "sur" in Spanish:

south→southern→the south→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: sur

Question 1 of 1

Which of these sentences correctly uses 'sur' as a location?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
sureño(southern; Southerner) — Adjective / Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the older French word 'sud,' which itself has roots in Germanic languages (like Old English 'sūth'). This Germanic term replaced the original Latin word for the direction.

First recorded: Medieval period (likely 13th-14th century)

Cognates (Related words)

French: sudEnglish: southPortuguese: sul

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'sur' need to be capitalized?

Generally, no. Directions are written in lowercase ('el sur'), unless they are part of a proper noun, like a country or a specific region (e.g., 'Corea del Sur' - South Korea).