The spelling of "north northwest" may seem cumbersome, but it accurately describes a specific direction. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /nɔrθ ˈnɔrθˌwɛst/. The first "north" is pronounced with the typical English "or" sound, while the second is pronounced with a slightly different emphasis on the "o", indicating a more precise direction. The "northwest" portion is pronounced as we would normally say it, with emphasis on the "west" to clarify the direction being described.
North northwest is a specific compass direction situated between due north and northwest on the cardinal compass. It lies approximately at a bearing of 337.5°. North northwest can also be referred to as NNW for short. The term is primarily used in navigation and orientation, particularly in relation to understanding the direction of movement, wind patterns, or coordinates on a map.
North northwest is a combination of two different compass points: north and northwest. These points contribute to the overall definition of the direction. North is the direction that is directly opposite to south, while northwest is the point located between north and west, around 45° to the west of north. By combining these two points, north northwest forms a direction that is almost halfway between due north and northwest.
When referring to the weather, north northwest wind typically originates from the area between north and northwest and blows in that specific direction. It can be used to describe the direction from which the wind is coming, which aids in understanding weather patterns and predicting conditions. Similarly, when discussing coordinates or giving directions, north northwest is a useful descriptor for indicating movement or position.
In summary, north northwest is the direction between due north and northwest, with a bearing of approximately 337.5°. It is a key element in navigation, orientation, and weather discussions, contributing to understanding wind patterns, movement, and coordinates.
The etymology of the phrase "north northwest" can be traced back to the Old English "norðnorðwest" which was a combination of the words "norð" meaning "north" and "west" meaning "west".
This term was derived from the Proto-Germanic language, where "norðr" meant "north" and "westr" meant "west". Over time, these terms evolved in various Germanic languages, leading to the Old English phrase "norðnorðwest".
The term is a compound of two directions, indicating a point on the compass 22.5 degrees clockwise from true north.