north-northwest
C1Technical, Literary
Definition
Meaning
The compass point or direction that is exactly midway between north and northwest.
Used to denote a direction halfway between north and northwest; in Shakespeare's "Hamlet," refers to the direction from which the Ghost is observed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used literally in navigation, meteorology (for wind direction), and occasionally in literary contexts. The hyphenated form 'north-northwest' is standard for the intermediate direction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the same compound structure.
Connotations
Neutral in both; precise directional term.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The wind] is [coming] from [north-northwest].[The ship] sailed [on a course] of [north-northwest].[We] headed [north-northwest].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nor'-nor'-west (archaic nautical abbreviation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used, except in context of logistics or travel planning.
Academic
Used in geography, navigation, meteorology.
Everyday
Extremely rare; used only for precise directional instructions.
Technical
Standard term in navigation, cartography, meteorology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The storm is approaching from the north-northwest.
- The village lies on a bearing of north-northwest.
American English
- Set a course for north-northwest.
- NNW is the abbreviation for north-northwest.
adverb
British English
- The plane flew north-northwest for several hours.
American English
- Continue north-northwest until you reach the river.
adjective
British English
- We felt a north-northwest wind picking up.
American English
- The north-northwest route was the fastest.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The wind is coming from north-northwest today.
- Sailors noted the wind shifting to the north-northwest overnight.
- We need to head north-northwest to reach the coast.
- The fleet's bearing of north-northwest put them directly on course for the strait.
- In 'Hamlet,' the Ghost appears 'in the same figure, like the king that's dead,' and marches 'north-northwest and once again south-south-east.'
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the compass rose: North is at the top. Northwest is halfway between North and West. North-Northwest is halfway between North and Northwest.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'северо-северо-запад'. The correct Russian equivalent is 'северо-северо-запад' (SSZ). There is no direct idiomatic equivalent; it is a technical term.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as one word ('northnorthwest'), writing without hyphens ('north northwest'), confusing with 'northwest by north'.
- Incorrect abbreviation: 'N-NW' instead of 'NNW'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct abbreviation for 'north-northwest'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a specialized term used primarily in navigation, meteorology, and occasionally literature. It is not common in everyday speech.
Northwest is halfway between North and West (315°). North-northwest is halfway between North and Northwest (337.5°), so it's more northerly.
The hyphens in compound directional terms like north-northwest are standard orthography to show they represent a single, specific, intermediate point on the compass.
It appears in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (Act 2, Scene 2), where Hamlet uses it metaphorically to describe his ability to discern truth from falsehood: 'I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.'