German · Travel & Getting Around

"West" in German: Westen

der Westen

Say it: VES-tenmasculine · der Westennoun/ˈvɛstn̩/

West in German is der Westen, masculine. Location uses im Westen. Direction uses nach Westen.

Sunset tip

Im Westen geht die Sonne unter.
In the west the sun sets.
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How to pronounce Westen

Say it

VES-ten

/ˈvɛstn̩/

VES-ten. Soft w as v. Soft final -en.

"West" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
der Westenthe west

Default noun.

im Westenin the west

Location.

nach Westenwestward / to the west

Direction.

Westdeutschlandwestern Germany

Region talk.

How to use Westen in real life

  1. 1Sunset tip

    Im Westen geht die Sonne unter.

    In the west the sun sets.

    Im Westen.

  2. 2Travel

    Wir ziehen in den Westen.

    We are moving to the west.

    In den Westen.

  3. 3Directions

    Fahr weiter nach Westen bis zur Autobahn.

    Keep driving west to the highway.

    Nach Westen.

Mistakes English speakers make with Westen

Incorrect: die Westen

Correct: der Westen

Westen is masculine. Die Westen would mean vests.

Incorrect: zu Westen

Correct: nach Westen / im Westen

Use nach Westen or im Westen.

Good to know

Westen is the cardinal direction; historically it also meant West Germany. Die Weste (vest) is a different word — watch the vowel.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing a viewpoint

  1. ChatPal

    Ist der Aussichtspunkt im Westen?

    Is the viewpoint in the west?

  2. You

    Ja, ganz im Westen der Stadt.

    Yes, right in the west of the city.

  3. ChatPal

    Dann laufen wir nach Westen.

    Then we walk west.

  4. You

    Top. Der Westen hat das bessere Licht.

    Great. The west has the better light.

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"West" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "West" in German

What gender is Westen?

Masculine: der Westen.

In the west?

Im Westen.

To the west?

Nach Westen / in den Westen.

Western Germany?

Westdeutschland.

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