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meridional

southern

adjective meh-ree-dyoh-NAHL Rare
Travel & Places Geography

Origin: From Latin meridionalis, from meridies ('midday, south'), because the sun is due south at noon in the northern hemisphere.

Usage Note

Meridional is a formal or literary synonym for del sur or sureño. It is invariable in gender (el hemisferio meridional, la zona meridional) and takes the plural meridionales. Its antonym is septentrional ('northern'). These Latinate compass-point adjectives (meridional, septentrional, oriental, occidental) are common in geography and formal prose but rarely used in everyday conversation.

Examples

"Las regiones meridionales del país tienen un clima más cálido."

Natural Translation

The southern regions of the country have a warmer climate.

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