Southeast refers to the direction that is exactly halfway between south and east. If you're facing north and turn to your right, that's east. If you keep turning right until you're facing backward, that's south. Southeast is the direction right between those two, at a 45-degree angle.

On a map, southeast is toward the lower right corner. If you're in Chicago and travel southeast, you might end up in Louisville. If you're in New York and head southeast, you could reach the Atlantic Ocean.

The word also describes a region. When Americans talk about the Southeast, they usually mean states like Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida. This region is known for its warm climate, historic cities, and distinctive culture. Similarly, someone might refer to Southeast Asia, the part of Asia that includes countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The word can be used as a noun (“We're traveling to the southeast”), an adjective (“the southeast corner of the field”), or an adverb (“The storm is moving southeast”). Weather forecasters often use it to describe wind direction: “Winds from the southeast” means air is blowing from that direction toward the northwest.