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sur

/soor/

south

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.

As a noun, 'sur' means 'south,' referring to the cardinal direction.

sur(Noun)

mA1

south

?

The cardinal direction

Also:

the South

?

A geographical region

📝 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

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'el' with Directions

In Spanish, the noun form of directions (sur, norte, este, oeste) usually requires the masculine article 'el' before it (e.g., 'el sur').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: "La ciudad está sur de aquí."

Correction: La ciudad está al sur de aquí. (Remember to use the preposition 'al' when talking about location relative to another point.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Memorizing Directions

A common way to remember the Spanish directions is the acronym NOSE (Norte, Oeste, Sur, Este), even though the order is slightly different than the typical compass.

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.

Used as an adjective, 'sur' translates to 'southern,' describing something related to the south.

sur(Adjective)

m/f (invariable)A2

southern

?

Relating to the south

Also:

south

?

Used before a noun, like 'south wind'

📝 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))

💡 Grammar Points

Invariable Adjective

When 'sur' acts as an adjective (especially for directions/winds), it often doesn't change based on whether the word it describes is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el viento sur' and 'la costa sur').

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Adjective Form

When talking about a person or culture from the south, it is more common to use the related adjective 'sureño/a' instead of 'sur' (e.g., 'comida sureña' for 'southern food').

✏️ 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

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).