south - west
There are many reasons to learn how to divide southwest into syllables. Separating a word like southwest into syllables is mainly to make it easier to read and pronounce. The syllable is the smallest sound unit in a word, and the separation of the southwest into syllables allows speakers to better segment and emphasize each sound unit.
Knowing how to separate southwest into syllables can be especially useful for those learning to read and write, because it helps them understand and pronounce southwest more accurately. Furthermore, separating southwest into syllables can also be useful in teaching grammar and spelling, as it allows students to more easily understand and apply the rules of accentuation and syllable division.
In the case of the word southwest, we find that when separating into syllables the resulting number of syllables is 2. With this in mind, it's much easier to learn how to pronounce southwest, as we can focus on perfecting the syllabic pronunciation before trying to pronounce southwest in full or within a sentence. Likewise, this breakdown of southwest into syllables makes it easier for us to remember how to write it.