interkardinal

Interkardinal is a term used in navigation and geography to denote directions that lie between the cardinal directions on a compass (north, east, south, and west). The commonly used English equivalent is intercardinal directions. The term helps describe bearings with greater precision than the four main compass points.

Between each pair of adjacent cardinal directions lies one interkardinal direction: northeast between north and east; southeast between east and south; southwest between south and west; and northwest between west and north. Each of these points sits at a 45-degree angle from the corresponding cardinal directions on a standard 360-degree compass.

Expanded systems subdivide further into secondary interkardinal directions, such as north-northeast (NNE), east-northeast (ENE), east-southeast (ESE), south-southeast (SSE), south-southwest (SSW), west-southwest (WSW), west-northwest (WNW), and north-northwest (NNW). These designate bearings at 22.5-degree increments between the cardinal and intercardinal points and are commonly used in more detailed compass rose schemes.

Usage of interkardinal terms appears in cartography, meteorology, aviation, and hiking to describe wind directions, routes, or precise bearings. Many map and navigation systems employ an 8-point scheme (cardinal plus intercardinal) or a more detailed 16-point and beyond, in which interkardinal directions form an essential layer for precise orientation. The terms are also encountered in historical navigational texts and standard reference works on geography and navigation.