West
Cardinal direction opposite east, where the Sun sets.
West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. The word 'west' derives from the Indo-European root *wes, cognate with Ancient Greek ἕσπερος and Latin vesper, both meaning 'evening' or 'west'.
- type
- Cardinal direction
- abbreviation
- W
- opposite direction
- East
- etymology
- Germanic word from Indo-European *wes ('evening')
- cultural associations
- Western world, Western Roman Empire, Western Christianity, NATO camp
Lore & Background
West is the direction opposite that of the Earth's rotation on its axis, and is therefore the general direction towards which the Sun appears to constantly progress and eventually set. This is not true on the planet Venus, which rotates in the opposite direction from the Earth (retrograde rotation). To an observer on the surface of Venus, the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east, although Venus's opaque clouds prevent observing the Sun from the planet's surface. In a map with north at the top, west is on the left. Moving continuously west is following a circle of latitude.
Reader's Guide
West holds significant cultural and symbolic meanings across civilizations. In Chinese Buddhism, the West represents movement toward the Buddha or enlightenment. The ancient Aztecs believed the West was the realm of the great goddess of water, mist, and maize. In Ancient Egypt, the West was considered the portal to the netherworld, associated with death, and the Goddess Amunet was a personification of the West. The Celts believed that beyond the western sea lay the Otherworld, or Afterlife. In Judaism, west is seen to be toward the Shekinah (presence) of God, as the Tabernacle and Jerusalem Temple faced east with God's Presence in the Holy of Holies to the west. In Islam, the Qur'an states: 'To God belong the East and the West. Wheresoever you turn, there is the Face of God.' In American literature, moving West has sometimes symbolized gaining freedom, associated with the settling of the Wild West. The phrase 'the West' often refers to the Western world, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Americas, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, with roots in the Western Roman Empire and Western Christianity.
Did You Know?
- West is the direction opposite that of the Earth's rotation on its axis.
- On Venus, due to retrograde rotation, the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east.
- The prevailing wind in many middle latitudes (35 to 65 degrees) is from the west, known as the westerlies.
- In Ancient Egypt, the West was considered the portal to the netherworld and associated with death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the name West come from linguistically?
The term descends from a Germanic word built on the Proto-Indo-European root *wes, which carried the sense of 'evening.' That same root also produced the Greek ἕσπερος and the Latin vesper, all binding the direction to the closing of the day.
What is West's direct opposite in the cardinal framework?
West stands squarely across from East, forming one of the two primary axis pairs that define the four-point compass. Their relationship is purely oppositional: West marks the Sun's descent while East marks its rise.
What cultural and political associations does West carry in the canon?
Within the broader narrative, West is linked to the Western Roman Empire, Western Christianity, and the NATO-aligned bloc. These ties give the direction a layered historical and geopolitical identity that goes well beyond its simple geographic function.
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