How To Ask For And Give Directions In Spanish

• Ask for directions confidently with simple starters like Disculpa, ¿dónde está…? and ¿Cómo llego a…?, then specify your target: la estación, el museo, la parada de autobús.

• Understand and follow instructions using core verbs and structures: Sigue recto, Gira a la izquierda/derecha, Cruza la calle, and others.

• Use prepositions of place to locate things precisely: al lado de, en frente de, detrás de, entre, plus orientation terms like norte, sur, este, oeste.

Are you looking for a sense of direction? Not in the metaphorical sense: we mean…are you lost? Learning how to ask for and give directions in Spanish is probably one of the best things you can do early on, especially if you’re planning a Spanish vacation.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled some words and phrases you’ll need to know to get around. Plus, we’ve included pronunciations for all of these terms. You may also want to check out our printable guide filled with useful vocabulary, so that you can supplement these phrases with vocabulary you’re keeping literally in your pocket.

Asking For Directions In Spanish

The two hardest parts of asking for directions in another language are getting the confidence to speak to someone and understanding what they say when they respond. These simple phrases should help you with both of those. You can substitute the parts in bold with whatever you’re specifically looking for.

• Excuse me, where is the train station? — Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de tren?

• Where are the monuments? — ¿Donde están los monumentos?

• I don’t understand. — No entiendo.

• Can you repeat that slower, please? — ¿Puede repetir más despacio, por favor?

• I’m lost. — Estoy perdido.

• Where is the Hotel Milenio? — ¿Cómo llego al Hotel Milenio?

Giving/Getting Directions In Spanish

While we can’t account for every possible direction you might receive, here are the most common words and phrases you’ll need to know.

Basic Directions

• turn to the right — gire a la derecha [HEE-reh ah lah deh-REH-chah]

• turn to the left — gire a la izquierda [HEE-reh ah lah ees-KYEHR-dah]

• go straight ahead — siga todo recto [SEE-gah TOH-doh REHK-toh]

• On the next street turn to the left, and there you are. — En la siguiente calle gira a la izquierda, allí está.

Prepositions Of Place

One of the key ways to identify where something is located is by using prepositions like “next to,” “under,” “behind” and so on. Here are some of the prepositions that will come in handy.

• in front of, behind — delante, detrás [deh-LAHN-teh, deh-TRAHS]

• on, under — encima, debajo [en-SEE-mah, deh-BAH-ho]

• inside, outside — dentro, fuera [DEN-troh, FWEH-rah]

• next (to) — al lado [al LAH-doh]

• between — entre [EHN-treh]

• The school is in front of the bookstore. — El colegio está delante de la librería.

• The café is behind the gym. — La cafetería está detrás del gimnasio.

• The movie theater is next to the bakery. — El cine está al lado de la panadería.

• The supermarket is between the library and the bank. — El supermercado está entre la biblioteca y el banco.

Directions And Locations

Here are a few more useful terms that can orient you in a new place.

• here — aquí [ah-KEE]

• there (something that is visible but not within reach) — ahí [ah-EE]

• over there (something that is not within view) — allí [ah-YEE]

• The desk is here in the living room. — El escritorio está aquí en el salón.

• Your book is there on the table. — Tu libro está aquí en la mesa.

• The big chair is over on the terrace. — La silla grande está allí en la terraza.

And if you need help with the cardinal directions in Spanish, here are the main ones.

• north — norte [NOR-teh]

• northeast — noreste [no-RES-teh]

• east — este [ES-teh]

• southeast — sureste [soo-RES-teh]

• south — sur [SOOR]

• southwest — suroeste [soo-ro-ES-teh]

• west — oeste [oh-ES-teh]

• northwest — noroeste [no-ro-ES-teh]

With these phrases on hand, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way, whether you’re learning for a quick vacation to a Spanish-speaking country or making a longer-term commitment. Safe travels!