Charting the Intercardinals
Intercardinal (diagonal) compass directions are perfectly regular. By taking two cardinal points and connecting them with the -o- interfix, you can plot an exact course. For example, sjever (north) + zapad (west) becomes sjeverozapad (northwest).
Expressing movement from a direction uses the preposition sa with the genitive case (ending in -a).
| The route from the northwest is dangerous, so we must change position. | Ruta sa sjeverozapada je opasna, tako da moramo promijeniti položaj. |
Declining Directions
Combining jug (south) and istok (east) creates jugoistok (southeast). As regular masculine nouns, these compound directions take standard case endings.
Use the preposition na + locative case (ending in -u) for static locations.
| I do not trust this map, our position is not in the southeast! | Ne vjerujem ovoj karti, naš položaj nije na jugoistoku! |
| Is the exact position of the island in the southeast? | Je li točan položaj otoka na jugoistoku? |
For motion toward a destination, na takes the accusative case (identical to the dictionary form for inanimate masculine nouns).
| That is the port from which we are sailing to the northwest. | To je luka iz koje plovimo na sjeverozapad. |
Southwest and Orienting Yourself
Joining jug and zapad gives jugozapad (southwest).
| Despite the strong wind, our new direction is the southwest. | Unatoč snažnom vjetru, naš novi smjer je jugozapad. |
To discuss finding your way, use the reflexive verb orijentirati se (to orient oneself).
| It is hard to orient oneself at night, but I would say that the ship is sailing to the southeast. | Teško je orijentirati se noću, ali rekao bih da brod plovi na jugoistok. |
Finally, the preposition prema (toward) takes the dative case (ending in -u) to indicate a general direction.
| Step onto this rock and look toward the northwest. | Stani na ovu stijenu i gledaj prema sjeverozapadu. |
