FluenDay Blog – Learn languages

Traveling to Spanish-speaking countries is both exciting and slightly nerve-wracking, especially when navigating unfamiliar cities! If you don’t speak the language, getting lost can feel daunting. But don’t worry—you’re in the right place! This guide will help you learn Spanish by walking you through essential phrases, key vocabulary, and handy tips to make asking for directions in Spanish a breeze. Let’s dive in!

Basic Vocabulary for Directions

Before we jump into specific phrases, let’s go over some key directional words that will be super useful:

Spanish	English
Izquierda	Left
Derecha	Right
Recto	Straight
Cerca	Near
Lejos	Far
Aquí	Here
Allí	There
Norte	North
Sur	South
Este	East
Oeste	West

Places and Landmarks

Spanish	English
Calle	Street
Esquina	Corner
Parque	Park
Hotel	Hotel
Estación de tren	Train Station
Centro	Downtown/City Center

Common Phrases to Ask for Directions in Spanish

When you approach someone to ask for directions in Spanish, it’s polite to start with a greeting. Here are a few important phrases to note:

Starting with Greetings

• Disculpe/Disculpa – Excuse me
• Buenos días – Good morning
• Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
• Buenas noches – Goodnight

Questions to Ask for Directions

• ¿Dónde está el/la ___? – Where is the ___?
  • Example: ¿Dónde está el hotel? – Where is the hotel?
• ¿Cómo llego a ___? – How can I get to ___?
  • Example: ¿Cómo llego al parque? – How can I get to the park?
• ¿Me podría decir dónde está ___? – Could you tell me where ___ is?
  • Example: ¿Me podría decir dónde está la estación de tren? – Could you tell me where the train station is?

Asking for Clarification

• ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? – Could you repeat that, please?
• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? – Can you speak more slowly, please?

Understanding the Response

Once you’ve asked your question, understanding the response is key. Here are some common phrases you might hear when someone gives you directions:

Basic Directions

• Siga recto – Go straight
• Gire a la derecha/izquierda – Turn right/left
• Está cerca – It’s nearby
• Está lejos – It’s far
• Está a la derecha/izquierda – It’s to the right/left
• Lo verá más adelante – You’ll see it ahead
• Siga hasta llegar a… – Keep going until you reach…

Landmarks and Reference Points

• Está al lado de… – It’s next to…
  • Example: Está al lado del supermercado. (It’s next to the supermarket.)
• Está enfrente de… – It’s in front of…
  • Example: Está enfrente del parque. (It’s in front of the park.)
• Está detrás de… – It’s behind…
  • Example: Está detrás de la iglesia. (It’s behind the church.)
• Está entre… – It’s between…
  • Example: Está entre la farmacia y el banco. (It’s between the pharmacy and the bank.)

Distances

• Está cerca – It’s close
• Está a unos cinco minutos. – It’s about five minutes away.
• Es a 10 minutos caminando. – It’s a 10-minute walk.
• Está muy lejos. – It’s very far.

Using Public Transportation

• Tome el autobús número… – Take the bus number…
• Bájese en la próxima parada. – Get off at the next stop.
• Necesita tomar el metro. – You need to take the metro.
• La estación de tren está por allá. – The train station is over there.

Other Helpful Responses

• No hace falta caminar, está demasiado lejos. – There’s no need to walk; it’s too far.
• Debería preguntar a alguien más. – You should ask someone else.
• Es mejor que tome un taxi. – It’s better if you take a taxi.

Sample Conversations

Now, let’s see how this plays out in real-life situations with a couple of sample conversations.

Scenario 1: Asking for a Restaurant

Traveler: Perdón, ¿dónde está el restaurante más cercano?
(Excuse me, where is the nearest restaurant?)
Local: Siga recto y gire a la derecha en la próxima calle.
(Go straight and turn right at the next street.)

Scenario 2: Asking for the Train Station

Traveler: Disculpe, ¿cómo llego a la estación de tren?
(Excuse me, how can I get to the train station?)
Local: Está lejos, debe tomar un taxi.
(It’s far; you should take a taxi.)

In Summary…

Let’s keep these five essential phrases in mind for asking for directions in Spanish before you go! (Audio is also attached!)

1. ¿Dónde está…? (Where is…?)

2. ¿Sabe dónde está…? (Do you know where… is?)

3. ¿Cómo llego a…? (How do I get to…?)

4. ¿Hay una… por aquí? (Is there a… around here?)

5. ¿Me puede decir cómo llegar a…? (Can you tell me how to get to…?)

Conclusion

Do you feel more confident about asking for directions in Spanish now? When you ask for directions, remember to stay polite, and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if needed.

If you want to practice these phrases before your trip, consider downloading the FluenDay app! You’ll find other useful phrases for your travels, complete with audio recordings by native speakers and video clips. This way, you’ll get a better sense of how to communicate with locals authentically!