östliche

Östliche is a German adjective meaning "eastern." It is derived from the noun Osten, meaning "east." As an adjective, it is used to describe things that are located in, coming from, or characteristic of the east. For example, one might refer to östliche Länder (eastern countries), östliche Musik (eastern music), or östliche Traditionen (eastern traditions). The feminine form is östliche, the masculine form is östlicher, and the neuter form is östliches. In plural, it is also östliche.

The term "östliche" can refer to a broad geographical area, often encompassing regions east of a certain point of reference, which can vary depending on context. In European contexts, it frequently denotes parts of Eastern Europe. In a global context, it can refer to Asia. The specific meaning is usually clarified by further specification, such as "östliche Mittelmeerregion" (eastern Mediterranean region) or "östliche Pazifikregion" (eastern Pacific region).

Beyond geography, "östliche" can also denote cultural or philosophical influences originating from the east. This might include discussions about östliche Religionen (eastern religions) like Buddhism or Hinduism, or östliche Philosophie (eastern philosophy). The adjective is a fundamental part of the German vocabulary for expressing directional and regional concepts.