south-southeast: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “south-southeast” mean?
The compass point or direction midway between south and southeast.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The compass point or direction midway between south and southeast.
Used to describe a precise bearing, orientation, or the origin of something (e.g., wind) from this direction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The abbreviation 'SSE' is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and technical. Carries connotations of precision, navigation, and meteorology.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to specific technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “south-southeast” in a Sentence
The wind is coming from the south-southeast.Set a course of south-southeast.It lies south-southeast of the capital.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “south-southeast” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The ship sailed south-southeast for six hours.
- The front is moving south-southeast.
American English
- Proceed south-southeast along the ridge.
- The wind shifted to blow south-southeast.
adjective
British English
- A strong south-southeast gale is expected tonight.
- The south-southeast approach to the harbour is treacherous.
American English
- We're tracking a south-southeast storm system.
- Take the south-southeast trail from the campground.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused, except possibly in logistics or shipping-related planning.
Academic
Used in geography, earth sciences, and navigation studies for precise location description.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Might be used by sailors, pilots, or hikers.
Technical
Standard term in meteorology (wind direction), marine navigation, cartography, and surveying.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “south-southeast”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “south-southeast”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “south-southeast”
- Writing as one word without a hyphen ('southsoutheast').
- Confusing the order ('southeast-south').
- Using it in non-directional contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different points on a 32-wind compass rose. 'South-southeast' is one point closer to south than 'southeast by south'.
Yes, the standard abbreviation in English is 'SSE'.
No, it is a technical term primarily used in navigation, meteorology, and map-reading.
South-southeast is conventionally 157.5 degrees on a compass, exactly halfway between south (180°) and southeast (135°).
The compass point or direction midway between south and southeast.
South-southeast is usually formal, technical in register.
South-southeast: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθ saʊˈθiːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθ ˌsaʊθˈist/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock face: South is 6 o'clock, Southeast is halfway between 6 and 3 (at 4:30). South-southeast is one step closer to South from that midpoint.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A POINT ON A COMPASS / THE LANDSCAPE IS A MAP.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'south-southeast' MOST appropriately used?