West

West (also called the west) is one of the four cardinal directions used by people when measuring direction. It is the direction opposite to east, situated where the sun sets. When facing north, west lies to the left.

The four cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. West is abbreviated with the letter G (Somali), W (English: West), or O (French and Italian: Ouest, Ovest). On standard maps, west appears on the left side of the cartographic representation, with north toward the top.

Scientific basis

The location where the sun sets depends on Earth's rotation and its axial tilt. The Earth rotates toward the east, causing the sun to appear to rise in the east and set in the west. During equinoxes, the sun sets roughly due west; at other times of year, the sunset point shifts toward the northwest or southwest, depending on one's location.

Geographical usage

In coordinate systems, west is designated by longitude values west of the Greenwich meridian, written as 'W' or negative numbers. Similarly, many region and country names contain the word west—for example, West Africa. In Somalia, West is a term applied to areas of land situated in the western portion.

Cultural and political meaning

When written with a capital letter as 'the West', the term often refers to a group defined by culture and society, typically including Western Europe, North America, and other regions linked by economic and political systems. This meaning is not geographically precise; it varies over time and according to who uses it.