North
/nɔːrθ/noun
The cardinal direction opposite south.
Did you know?The word north goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “left,” because many early cultures oriented themselves facing the rising sun, making the north the left-hand side of the world.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ner-
“left; lower, below”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*nurþrą
“north”
Old English
English
norþ
“north, the northern direction”
Old Norse
Old Norse
norðr
“north”
Modern English
English
north
“the cardinal direction north”
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