cardinal points puntos cardinales

Question

There is a cardinal point in Spanish that could fill the blanks
What's the meaning? Can we use it in English too or is it a false friend with this meaning?

1 Me siento sin rumbo, sin ....................., totalmente desolado.
2 Cuando te sientas sin..................busca a Dios y te prestará ayuda.
3 En algún momento de mi vida perdí el .................

Answer 1

Es la palabra "el norte" (true north)?

If this is correct, yes, it makes perfect sense in English.

Shall we wait? Let's see if there is another brave SDer. lol - polenta1, Aug 10, 2017

Yes!!! Sin norte. Mi norte es aprender más inglés. jaja Excelente. Y gracias por true north. - polenta1, Aug 10, 2017

De nada, amiga mía. - Echoline, Aug 10, 2017

Answer 2

Polenta:

I'm guessing, as Echoline said, the Spanish words to fill in the blank are "el norte."

True north is used occasionally in English, but I wouldn't say it is very common.

Most or all of the following are more common and I think Spanish has many similar sayings with camino, dirección, etc. ¿no?

He has lost his way.

He's lost all direction in life.

He's like a man without a compass. (somewhat literary)

He has lost his guiding light.

He doesn't know where he's going anymore.

Nothing seems to be driving him.

He's like a lost puppy.

How tender" A lost puppy. In fact then "norte" alone is somewhat a false friend with the meaning I gave here. It's not an everyday word but we use it. - polenta1, Aug 10, 2017

Polenta: I would go so far as to say it is almost never used by itself. True north is used on occasion "north star" as well, but they are much less common than some of my other alternatives. So...not a false friend, maybe but a distant relative. :) - DilKen, Aug 11, 2017

Answer 3

I see the Spanish answer, but it would not be used in English but from context would be understood. Ken has given you some good examples the one with guiding light and compass seem to match the language and sentiment.. The North star is often used for direction.

However, aim, goal or in your examples gone astray, lost my way would be better.

Here is a poem written by an Englishman 70 + years ago about another male. It was populised when read in the film Four Weddings and A Funeral

Here it is read very clearly by a female actress. Note he uses North, as one of the compass points explaining how much the dead person meant to him [he uses all the compasses points]

Stop the clocks

He was my north...... my east, my west. The poem exquisite and her voice also. I didn't remember this though I saw the movie. Thanks - polenta1, Aug 11, 2017

It was read by a male Scottish actor . - Mardle, Aug 11, 2017