occidental

western

adjective ok-see-den-TAHL Less Common

Origin: From Latin occidens ('setting sun, west').

Usage Note

Occidental means 'western' in a geographical or cultural sense: Europa occidental ('Western Europe'), el mundo occidental ('the Western world'). It is a formal adjective; everyday speech tends to use del oeste for simple compass directions (la costa del oeste). Its antonym is oriental ('eastern').

Examples

"Los países occidentales firmaron el acuerdo."

Natural Translation

The western countries signed the agreement.

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