southern
gb/sˈʌðɚn/ us/sˈʌðɚn/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Situated in the south
From or in the south part of a place.
Usage pattern:
[something] is southern
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'southern' with 'south'—'southern' is an adjective, while 'south' can be a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Synonyms
southerly (Often used for direction or movement rather than describing location.)
Antonyms
northern (Describes something located in or facing the north.)
Collocations
southern states
|southern coast
|southern border
|southern region
|southern city
Themes
geography
|directions
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The southern coast of the country is known for its beaches.
- She grew up in a small town in southern France.
- The park is located in the southern part of the city.
- Southern winds brought warm air into the valley.
- We traveled across the southern border into Mexico.
Learner examples
- I live in the southern part of Spain.
- The southern city is very hot in summer.
- We visited the southern coast last year.
- The school is in the southern area of town.
adjective
B1
property
2
Of the southern US
About the people, culture, or traditions of the southern United States.
Usage pattern:
[something] is Southern
Common mistake:
Learners may mistakenly use lowercase 'southern' when referring to the official cultural region; 'Southern' is capitalized when referring specifically to the US South.
Synonyms
Dixie (Informal term referring to the US South; more cultural than geographic.)
Antonyms
Northern (Relating to the northern United States or its culture.)
Collocations
Southern accent
|Southern hospitality
|Southern cooking
|Southern tradition
Themes
culture
|geography
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Southern cooking is famous for its rich flavors.
- She spoke with a gentle Southern accent.
- Southern hospitality made us feel welcome.
- The festival celebrates Southern music traditions.
Learner examples
- I like Southern food.
- He has a Southern accent.
- We enjoyed Southern music at the party.
Grammar
Dictionary form
southern
IPA
GB/sˈʌðɚn/
US/sˈʌðɚn/
Syllables & stress
south - ern (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (south)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: southern
Word family
Expressions
Southern hospitality
1/sˈʌðɚn hˌɔspətˈæləti/
fixed phrase
Warm welcome typical of US South
The friendly and generous way people treat guests in the southern United States.
Examples
- We experienced true Southern hospitality during our visit to Georgia.
- Southern hospitality made our trip unforgettable.
Southern belle
1/sˈʌðɚn bˈɛl/
fixed phrase
Traditional young woman from US South
A beautiful young woman from the southern United States who has traditional manners and style.
Examples
- She was considered a Southern belle in her hometown.
- She played the role of a Southern belle in the historical drama.
- The movie features a Southern belle character.
- Although she grew up as a Southern belle, she later moved to New York and became a lawyer.
- The novel questions the myth of the perfect Southern belle.