Giving and Following Directions
Master how to ask for directions, understand them, and give them - essential skills for traveling in Spanish-speaking countries!
Asking for Directions
Basic Questions
¿Dónde está...? (Where is...?)
- ¿Dónde está el banco? (Where is the bank?)
- ¿Dónde está la estación? (Where is the station?)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
¿Cómo llego a...? (How do I get to...?)
- ¿Cómo llego al museo? (How do I get to the museum?)
- ¿Cómo llego a la plaza? (How do I get to the square?)
¿Hay... cerca de aquí? (Is there a... near here?)
- ¿Hay un supermercado cerca de aquí? (Is there a supermarket near here?)
- ¿Hay una farmacia por aquí? (Is there a pharmacy around here?)
Getting Someone's Attention
Before asking for directions:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Disculpe | Excuse me (formal) |
| Perdón | Excuse me / Pardon |
| Por favor | Please |
| ¿Me puede ayudar? | Can you help me? |
Complete question:
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está el banco? (Excuse me, where is the bank?)
- Perdón, ¿cómo llego a la plaza? (Excuse me, how do I get to the square?)
Understanding Directions
Basic Direction Words
Cardinal Directions:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| norte | north |
| sur | south |
| este | east |
| oeste | west |
Left and Right:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| a la derecha | to the right |
| a la izquierda | to the left |
Straight:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| todo recto | straight ahead |
| todo derecho | straight ahead |
| siga derecho | keep going straight |
Distance and Location
Distance:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| cerca | close / near |
| lejos | far |
| muy cerca | very close |
| muy lejos | very far |
| aquí mismo | right here |
| allí | there |
| al final | at the end |
Examples:
- Está cerca (It's close)
- Está lejos (It's far)
- Está aquí mismo (It's right here)
How Far?
Questions:
- ¿Está lejos? (Is it far?)
- ¿A cuántas cuadras? (How many blocks?)
- ¿Cuánto se tarda? (How long does it take?)
Answers:
- Está cerca (It's close)
- A dos cuadras (Two blocks away)
- Cinco minutos a pie (Five minutes on foot)
- Diez minutos en coche (Ten minutes by car)
Step-by-Step Directions
Command Verbs for Directions
Formal commands (usted form) - most common:
| Infinitive | Command | English |
|---|---|---|
| ir | vaya | go |
| seguir | siga | continue |
| doblar | doble | turn |
| girar | gire | turn |
| caminar | camine | walk |
| cruzar | cruce | cross |
| tomar | tome | take |
| pasar | pase | pass |
Giving Directions Step-by-Step
Pattern: Command + direction/location
Siga... (Continue...)
- Siga todo recto (Continue straight ahead)
- Siga por esta calle (Continue along this street)
- Siga hasta el semáforo (Continue until the traffic light)
Doble/Gire... (Turn...)
- Doble a la derecha (Turn right)
- Gire a la izquierda (Turn left)
- Doble en la esquina (Turn at the corner)
Cruce... (Cross...)
- Cruce la calle (Cross the street)
- Cruce el puente (Cross the bridge)
- Cruce la plaza (Cross the square)
Tome... (Take...)
- Tome la primera calle (Take the first street)
- Tome la segunda a la derecha (Take the second on the right)
Complete Direction Examples
Example 1: "Siga todo recto. Doble a la derecha en el semáforo. El banco está a la izquierda." (Continue straight ahead. Turn right at the traffic light. The bank is on the left.)
Example 2: "Camine dos cuadras. Cruce la calle. La farmacia está enfrente." (Walk two blocks. Cross the street. The pharmacy is across the street.)
Example 3: "Tome la segunda calle a la derecha. Siga hasta el final. El museo está allí." (Take the second street on the right. Continue until the end. The museum is there.)
Street Vocabulary
Street Types
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la calle | street |
| la avenida | avenue |
| el bulevar | boulevard |
| el camino | road / path |
| la carretera | highway / road |
| la plaza | square / plaza |
| el callejón | alley |
Street Features
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la esquina | corner |
| el semáforo | traffic light |
| el cruce | crossing / intersection |
| la intersección | intersection |
| el puente | bridge |
| la acera | sidewalk |
| el paso de peatones | crosswalk |
| la rotonda | roundabout |
Ordinal Numbers for Directions
First, Second, Third...
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| primero/a | first |
| segundo/a | second |
| tercero/a | third |
| cuarto/a | fourth |
| quinto/a | fifth |
In directions:
- la primera calle (the first street)
- la segunda a la derecha (the second on the right)
- el tercer edificio (the third building)
Note: "primero" → "primer" and "tercero" → "tercer" before masculine singular nouns!
Location Prepositions
Where Things Are
Basic locations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| en | in / on / at |
| a | to / at |
| cerca de | near |
| lejos de | far from |
| al lado de | next to |
| enfrente de | in front of / across from |
| detrás de | behind |
| entre | between |
| delante de | in front of |
| al final de | at the end of |
| en la esquina | on the corner |
Examples:
- El banco está al lado del supermercado (The bank is next to the supermarket)
- La farmacia está enfrente de la iglesia (The pharmacy is across from the church)
- El museo está entre el hotel y el banco (The museum is between the hotel and the bank)
Buildings and Landmarks
Common Reference Points
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el banco | bank |
| el hotel | hotel |
| el supermercado | supermarket |
| la iglesia | church |
| el parque | park |
| la estación | station |
| el hospital | hospital |
| el ayuntamiento | city hall |
| la plaza | square |
| el semáforo | traffic light |
| el puente | bridge |
| la fuente | fountain |
Using landmarks:
- Está cerca del parque (It's near the park)
- Está enfrente de la iglesia (It's across from the church)
- Gire en el semáforo (Turn at the traffic light)
Asking for Clarification
When You Don't Understand
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| No entiendo | I don't understand |
| ¿Puede repetir? | Can you repeat? |
| Más despacio, por favor | More slowly, please |
| ¿Puede escribirlo? | Can you write it down? |
| ¿Está muy lejos? | Is it very far? |
| ¿A qué distancia? | How far is it? |
| ¿Puedo ir caminando? | Can I walk? |
Giving Negative Responses
When You Don't Know
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| No sé | I don't know |
| No soy de aquí | I'm not from here |
| Lo siento, no conozco | Sorry, I don't know (this area) |
| No estoy seguro/a | I'm not sure |
| Pregúntele a alguien más | Ask someone else |
Transportation Directions
By Different Means
On foot:
- A pie (On foot)
- Caminando (Walking)
- Es una caminata de 10 minutos (It's a 10-minute walk)
By car:
- En coche / En carro (By car)
- Manejando (Driving)
- Son 5 minutos en coche (It's 5 minutes by car)
By bus/metro:
- En autobús (By bus)
- En metro (By subway)
- Tome el autobús número 5 (Take bus number 5)
- Baje en la tercera parada (Get off at the third stop)
Practice Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Finding a Bank
Turista: Disculpe, ¿dónde está el banco más cercano? Local: Está muy cerca. Siga todo recto por esta calle. Turista: ¿Cuántas cuadras? Local: Dos cuadras. Está a la derecha, al lado del supermercado. Turista: ¿Puedo ir caminando? Local: Sí, está a tres minutos a pie. Turista: Muchas gracias. Local: De nada.
Translation: Tourist: Excuse me, where is the nearest bank? Local: It's very close. Continue straight ahead on this street. Tourist: How many blocks? Local: Two blocks. It's on the right, next to the supermarket. Tourist: Can I walk? Local: Yes, it's three minutes on foot. Tourist: Thank you very much. Local: You're welcome.
Dialogue 2: Getting to the Station
Turista: Perdón, ¿cómo llego a la estación de tren? Local: Es un poco lejos. Tiene que tomar el metro. Turista: ¿Hay una estación de metro cerca? Local: Sí. Siga derecho hasta el semáforo. Gire a la izquierda. La estación está enfrente de la plaza. Turista: ¿Qué línea tomo? Local: La línea azul, dirección norte. Turista: Gracias por su ayuda. Local: No hay de qué.
Translation: Tourist: Excuse me, how do I get to the train station? Local: It's a bit far. You have to take the metro. Tourist: Is there a metro station nearby? Local: Yes. Continue straight until the traffic light. Turn left. The station is across from the square. Tourist: What line do I take? Local: The blue line, northbound. Tourist: Thanks for your help. Local: You're welcome.
Dialogue 3: Finding a Pharmacy
Turista: Hola, ¿hay una farmacia por aquí? Local: Sí, hay una a dos cuadras. Turista: ¿En qué dirección? Local: Camine todo recto. En la segunda calle, doble a la derecha. La farmacia está en la esquina. Turista: ¿Está abierta ahora? Local: Sí, está abierta hasta las 9 de la noche. Turista: Perfecto. Muchas gracias.
Translation: Tourist: Hello, is there a pharmacy around here? Local: Yes, there's one two blocks away. Tourist: In what direction? Local: Walk straight ahead. At the second street, turn right. The pharmacy is on the corner. Tourist: Is it open now? Local: Yes, it's open until 9 PM. Tourist: Perfect. Thank you very much.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the Directions
Fill in the missing words:
- ___ todo recto (Continue straight ahead)
- ___ a la derecha (Turn right)
- ___ la calle (Cross the street)
- Está ___ de la iglesia (It's in front of the church)
- Tome la ___ calle (Take the first street)
Answers:
- Siga
- Doble / Gire
- Cruce
- enfrente
- primera
Exercise 2: Give Directions
Give directions to someone asking how to get to the bank:
- It's close
- Go straight two blocks
- Turn right
- The bank is on the left
Sample Answer: Está cerca. Siga todo recto dos cuadras. Doble a la derecha. El banco está a la izquierda.
Exercise 3: Translate
Translate these directions:
- Continue straight ahead
- Turn left at the corner
- It's next to the supermarket
- Take the second street on the right
- Is it far?
Answers:
- Siga todo recto / Siga derecho
- Doble/Gire a la izquierda en la esquina
- Está al lado del supermercado
- Tome la segunda calle a la derecha
- ¿Está lejos?
Useful Phrases Summary
Asking for Directions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde está...? | Where is...? |
| ¿Cómo llego a...? | How do I get to...? |
| ¿Hay... cerca? | Is there a... nearby? |
| ¿Está lejos? | Is it far? |
| ¿Puedo ir caminando? | Can I walk? |
Giving Directions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Siga todo recto | Continue straight ahead |
| Doble a la derecha | Turn right |
| Doble a la izquierda | Turn left |
| Cruce la calle | Cross the street |
| Tome la primera calle | Take the first street |
| Está al lado de... | It's next to... |
| Está enfrente de... | It's in front of / across from... |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistake 1: Wrong Preposition
Wrong: ❌ Doble en la derecha Right: ✅ Doble a la derecha (Turn right)
Use "a" (not "en") for directions!
❌ Mistake 2: Informal Commands
Wrong: ❌ Dobla a la derecha (using tú form) Right: ✅ Doble a la derecha (using usted form)
Use formal commands (usted) with strangers!
❌ Mistake 3: Gender Agreement with Ordinals
Wrong: ❌ La primero calle Right: ✅ La primera calle (first is feminine)
Ordinals must agree with gender!
Your Action Plan
Week 1: Basic Questions
- Learn "¿Dónde está...?"
- Master "¿Cómo llego a...?"
- Practice asking for common places
Week 2: Understanding Directions
- Learn direction vocabulary (recto, derecha, izquierda)
- Practice location prepositions
- Learn landmark vocabulary
Week 3: Following Directions
- Master command forms (siga, doble, cruce)
- Practice ordinal numbers
- Listen to direction recordings
Week 4: Giving Directions
- Learn to give complete directions
- Practice with maps
- Role-play giving and receiving directions
Pro Tip: Before traveling, study a map of the area and practice giving directions to major landmarks in Spanish!
Practice: Use Google Maps in Spanish and practice narrating directions out loud as you follow routes!
Cultural Note: People in Spanish-speaking countries are generally very helpful with directions and often walk with you partway or draw maps!
Memory Trick:
- Derecha = right (think "direct")
- Izquierda = left (the longer word is the left)
- Recto = straight (think "rec-tile" - straight line)
Remember: Being able to ask for and understand directions is crucial for navigating in Spanish-speaking countries. Practice these phrases and you'll never get lost!