{"id":143539,"date":"2024-02-14T07:17:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T12:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/directions-in-spanish\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T03:21:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T07:21:22","slug":"directions-in-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/directions-in-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Important Terms for Understanding Directions in Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re planning on traveling to a Spanish-speaking country<\/a>, then you should absolutely take the time to learn how to ask for and give directions in Spanish.\u00a0You\u2019ll thank yourself the first time you get lost\u2014and it\u2019s a great way to practice Spanish with locals.<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t have a trip on the horizon, asking for and giving directions in Spanish is a practical skill worth learning.<\/p>\n

In addition to the post below, you can also take a look at this story-based lesson from our YouTube channel<\/a>:<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
\n<\/p>\n

Approaching People for Help<\/h2>\n

\"Three<\/a><\/p>\n

Before you ask for directions, you\u2019ll want to say hello. Spanish has greetings for every situation<\/a>, but here are the best ways to politely break the ice with a stranger.<\/p>\n

Hola.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Hello.<\/p>\n

Hola, Se\u00f1or<\/em><\/span>\/<\/em>Se\u00f1ora.<\/em><\/span>
\nHello, Sir\/Ma\u2019am.<\/p>\n

Buenos d\u00edas.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Good morning.<\/p>\n

Substitute buenos d\u00edas<\/em> with buenos tardes<\/em><\/span> (good afternoon) or buenos noches<\/em><\/span> (good evening) depending on the time of day.<\/p>\n

\u00a1Hola, buenos d\u00edas!<\/em><\/span>
\nHello, good morning!<\/p>\n

Disculpe.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Excuse me (formal).<\/p>\n

Disculpe, estoy perdido.<\/em><\/span>
\nExcuse me, I\u2019m lost.<\/p>\n

\u00bfMe puedes ayudar?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Can you help me?<\/p>\n

\u00bfMe puedes ayudar, por favor?<\/em><\/span>
\nCan you help me, please?<\/p>\n

Asking for Directions<\/h2>\n

Estoy perdido\/a.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019m lost.<\/p>\n

Disculpe, estoy perdida. \u00bfMe puedes ayudar?<\/em><\/span>
\nExcuse me, I\u2019m lost. Can you help me?<\/p>\n

Necesito ayuda.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 I need help.<\/p>\n

Necesito ayuda encontrar mi hotel.<\/em><\/span>
\nI need help finding my hotel.<\/p>\n

D\u00f3nde est\u00e1<\/em>…<\/strong> \u2013 Where is…<\/p>\n

\u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 el parque de Retiro?<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/em>Where is Retiro Park?<\/p>\n

Estoy buscando<\/em>…<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019m looking for…<\/p>\n

Estoy buscando la calle Flores.<\/em><\/span>
\nI\u2019m looking for Flower Street.<\/p>\n

\u00bfHay un\/una _____ por aqu\u00ed?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Is there a(n) _____ around here?<\/p>\n

Hay un buen restaurante por aqu\u00ed?<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/em>Is there a good restaurant around here?<\/p>\n

\u00bfEst\u00e1 [cerca\/lejos]?<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Is it [close\/far away]?<\/p>\n

\u00bfEst\u00e1 lejos la avenida 9 de Julio?<\/em><\/span>
\nIs July 9th<\/sup> Avenue far away?<\/p>\n

Giving Directions<\/h2>\n

Sigue recto.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Continue straight.<\/p>\n

Sigue recto hasta el sem\u00e1foro.<\/em><\/span>
\nContinue straight until the stoplight.<\/p>\n

Sigue la calle <\/em>_____.<\/strong> \u2013 Follow _____ Street.<\/p>\n

You can replace calle<\/em><\/span> (street) with other similar words like avenida<\/em><\/span> (avenue), carretera<\/em><\/span> (highway), callej\u00f3n<\/em><\/span> (alleyway) or puente<\/em><\/span>\u00a0(bridge). In Spanish, unlike in English, these words generally come before<\/strong> the street name, not after.<\/p>\n

For example, if a street were called Chile Street in English, it\u2019d be called calle Chile<\/em><\/span>\u00a0in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Sigue la avenida de Espa\u00f1a.<\/em><\/span>
\nFollow Spain Avenue.<\/p>\n

[Gira\/dobla] a la [derecha\/izquierda].<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Turn [right\/left].<\/p>\n

Cuando llegues al parque, gira a la derecha.<\/em><\/span>
\nWhen you arrive at the park, turn right.<\/p>\n

[Ve\/camina\/conduce] hasta <\/em>_____.<\/strong> \u2013 [Go\/walk\/drive] until the _____.<\/p>\n

Camina hasta el gimnasio y gira a la izquierda.<\/em><\/span>
\nWalk until the gym and turn left.<\/p>\n

Toma la primera [derecha\/izquierda].<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Take the first [right\/left].<\/p>\n

You can also substitute primera<\/em> (first) with segunda<\/em><\/span> (second) or tercera<\/em><\/span>\u00a0(third) based on your needs.<\/p>\n

Sigue recto, y toma la segunda izquierda.<\/em><\/span>
\nContinue straight, and take the second left.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1 a la [derecha\/izquierda].<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s on the [right\/left].<\/p>\n

El banco est\u00e1 en la calle principal. Est\u00e1 a la derecha.<\/em><\/span>
\nThe bank is on Main\u00a0Street. It\u2019s on the right.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1 al lado de <\/em>_____.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s next to _____<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[Est\u00e1<\/em> + a preposition + a place] is a formula that you can use to describe the location of something relative to another location.<\/p>\n

Mi casa est\u00e1 en frente de la escuela.<\/em><\/span>
\nMy house is across from the school.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1 a _____ minutos.<\/em><\/strong> \u2013\u00a0It\u2019s _____ minutes away.<\/p>\n

No est\u00e1 lejos. Est\u00e1 a diez minutos caminando.<\/em><\/span>
\nIt\u2019s not far. It\u2019s ten minutes away on foot.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1 a _____ [cuadras\/manzanas\/millas\/kil\u00f3metros].<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s _____ [blocks\/miles\/kilometers] away.<\/p>\n

Tendr\u00e1s que conducir al restaurante. Est\u00e1 a cinco kil\u00f3metros de aqu\u00ed.<\/em><\/span>
\nYou\u2019ll have to drive to the restaurant. It\u2019s five kilometers from here.<\/p>\n

Key Direction Words in Spanish<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

These next few vocabulary lists contain dozens of the most useful words related to Spanish directions. Click on each one to hear its pronunciation!<\/p>\n

Main Directions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Norte <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>North<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sur <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>South<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Este <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oeste <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>West<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Izquierda <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Left<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Derecha <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Right<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cerca <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Near<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lejos <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Far<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Al lado (de) <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Beside, next to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Enfrente (de) <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>In front (of), across (from)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Detr\u00e1s (de) <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Behind<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A trav\u00e9s (de) <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Through<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Esquina <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Corner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recto <\/a>\n <\/em> | Derecho <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Straight (like \u201cwalk straight\u201d)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Important Place Nouns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
La avenida<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Avenue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La calle<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Street<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La carretera<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Highway<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El callej\u00f3n<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Alleyway<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La calle peatonal<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Pedestrian street<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El puente<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Bridge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La acera<\/em> <\/a>\n | La vereda<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Sidewalk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La rotonda<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Roundabout<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El mapa<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Map<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El sem\u00e1foro<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Stoplight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El paso de peatones<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Crosswalk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La direcci\u00f3n<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Address<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Las indicaciones<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Directions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La cuadra<\/em> <\/a>\n | La manzana<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Block<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La milla<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Mile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
El kil\u00f3metro<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Kilometer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Spanish Verbs for Directions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ir<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Girar<\/em> <\/a>\n | Doblar<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To turn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seguir<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To follow, to continue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pasar<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To pass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parar<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To stop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cruzar<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To cross<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Caminar<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conducir<\/em> <\/a>\n | Manejar<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Other Direction-Related Vocabulary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Hasta<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Until<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Izquierdo<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Izquierda<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Left<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Derecho<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Derecha<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Right or straight (to describe the physical appearance of something)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recto<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Recta<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Straight (to describe the physical appearance of something)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pr\u00f3ximo<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Pr\u00f3xima<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Next<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primero<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Primera<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>First<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Segundo<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Segunda<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Second<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tercero<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Tercera<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Third<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perdido<\/em> <\/a>\n \/ Perdida<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Lost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Helpful Phrases for Talking in Spanish\u00a0<\/h2>\n

If you’re still getting the hang of Spanish, you can keep these phrases in mind when talking to native speakers:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00bfPuede repetirlo, por favor? <\/strong><\/em>\u2013 Can you repeat that, please?<\/p>\n

\u00bfPuede hablar m\u00e1s despacio? <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 Can you speak more slowly?<\/p>\n

Disculpe, \u00bfhabla ingl\u00e9s?<\/strong> <\/em>\u2013 Excuse me, do you speak English?<\/p>\n

Lo siento, mi espa\u00f1ol no es muy bueno. <\/strong> <\/em>\u2013 I\u2019m sorry, my Spanish isn\u2019t very good.<\/p>\n

\u00bfPuede mostrarme en el mapa? <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 <\/em>Can you show me on the map?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re holding a phone, an alternative phrase would be \u201c\u00bfPuede mostrarme en el celular?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 Can you show me on the phone?<\/p>\n

To get more practice with conversational Spanish, you can do an immersion from anywhere with a language learning program like FluentU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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