Cardinal points in Spanish are always masculine.
El sur = south
El norte = north
El este = east
El oeste = west
El sureste/sudeste = south-east
El suroeste/sudoeste = south-west
El noreste/nordeste = north-east
El noroeste = north-west
Note that "nordoeste" does not exist.
Read and listen to these examples:
Vivo en el norte de España.I live in the north of Spain.
Sandra vive en el nordeste de Madrid.Sandra lives in the north-east of Madrid.
Lucía vive en el noreste de Salamanca.Lucía lives in the north-east of Salamanca.
Nosotros estamos en el este de Cuba.We are in eastern Cuba.
Paula y Marcos viven en el sudeste de Argentina.Paula and Marcos live in the south-east of Argentina.
Yo vivo en el sureste de Granada.I live in the south-east of Granada.
Ana va a ir al sur de Francia.Ana is going to go to southern France.
Yo estoy en el suroeste de Japón.I am in south-west Japan.
Estoy en el sudoeste de Perú.I am in south-west Peru.
Vosotros vivís en el oeste de Estados Unidos.You live in the west of the USA.
Usted va a visitar el noroeste de Italia.You are going to visit the north-west of Italy.
See also Género and Género masculino.
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