This is the 3897th most frequent German word.
südlich
South, southern.
Here, 'südlich' is used as a spatial descriptor indicating the direction relative to a reference point.
Das Dorf liegt südlich von der Stadt.
The village is located to the south of the city.
In this sentence, 'südlich' in the adjective form 'südlichen' describes a group of regions oriented towards the south.
Die südlichen Regionen des Landes sind bekannt für ihr warmes Wetter.
The southern regions of the country are known for their warm weather.
Using 'südlich' in the form 'südlicher', it specifies a direction concerning the cardinal orientation south.