sørvest

Sørvest is the Norwegian term for the compass direction southwest, the point between south (sør) and west (vest). It is one of the eight principal compass points, alongside nord, nordøst, øst, sørøst, sør, vest, og nordvest. The word is used in navigation, geography, and everyday language to describe direction or bearing.

Etymology and form: The term is a straightforward compound of the two cardinal directions sør and vest. In Norwegian, it is written as a single word, sorvest in older spellings, and can be described as sørvestlig when used as an adjective (for example, sørvestlig vind).

Usage: In navigation and maps, sørvest denotes a bearing of 225 degrees from true north. In meteorology and weather reporting, the phrase vind fra sørvest or sørvestlig vind indicates winds coming from the southwest. The term also appears in travel, planning, and descriptive contexts to indicate routes, positions, or tendencies toward the southwest.

Regional and cultural notes: Sørvest is primarily a geographical and navigational term within Norwegian. It may appear in regional descriptions or tourism materials to denote southwestern areas or directions, but it is not tied to a single administrative region. It is part of the broader system of compass directions used in Scandinavian languages.

See also: compass rose, cardinal directions, wind direction.