Mastering direction words in Spanish is key to making your travels go smoothly. Even when you rely on maps or your phone, nothing beats the art of conversation! Being able to ask for and give directions in Spanish saves you the hassle of getting lost or wandering around unknown places.
Read this blog post to know what to do if you get lost and learn essential direction words in Spanish. This insightful lesson also includes audio examples for you to take your new vocabulary for a spin.
Keep reading for a resourceful and complete vocabulary guide to giving directions in Spanish.
¿Dónde están las escaleras?
Where are the stairs?
¿Sabe donde hay una parada de bus?
Do you know where there is a bus stop?
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By combining the two previous vocabulary tables with direction words in Spanish, you’ll be able to ask for specific directions and form sentences.
Disculpe, estoy buscando la parada de metro más cercana.
Excuse me, I’m looking for the nearest metro stop.
Now that you’ve covered how to ask the questions, it’s time to learn how to interpret the answers and directions in Spanish you’re given.
When asking for directions in Spanish, some people will respond with specific instructions for you to follow. Let’s examine direction words in Spanish you may hear.
| English | Spanish |
| across from, in front of | enfrente de |
| at | en |
| behind | detrás de |
| between the | en medio de |
| far | lejos |
| from | desde |
| inside | adentro, dentro |
| near | cerca |
| next to | junto a, al lado de |
| on the corner of | en la esquina de |
| outside | afuera, fuera |
| straight ahead | derecho, recto |
| to the left of | a la izquierda de |
| to the right of | a la derecha de |
| until | hasta |
| English | Spanish |
| avenue | la avenida |
| block | la cuadra |
| corner | la esquina |
| east | este |
| north | norte |
| roundabout | la glorieta, el redondel |
| sidewalk | la banqueta |
| sign | el rótulo |
| south | north |
| street | la calle |
| traffic light | el semáforo |
| west | oeste |
La tienda de zapatos está en el centro comercial.
The shoe store is in the mall.
El museo de arte está detrás de la iglesia.
The art museum is behind the church.
| English | Spanish |
| continue | sigue |
| drive | conduce |
| enter | entra |
| go (formal) | vaya |
| go (informal) | ve |
| go down | baja |
| go out | sal |
| go up | sube |
| keep straight | sigue derecho |
| pass by | pasa por |
| take the | toma el |
| turn right, turn left | gira a la derecha, gira a la izquierda |
| walk | camina |
Conduce dos kilómetros y verás la salida en la glorieta.
Drive two kilometers and you’ll see the exit at the roundabout.
Mejor ve caminando, está cerca.
Better go walking, it’s close.
Sal a la calle y podrás ver el rótulo.
Go out to the street and you’ll see the sign.
Sube al piso cinco en el elevador.
Go up the fifth floor on the elevator.
Sigue derecho en esta cuadra, está aquí nomás.
Keep straight on this block, it’s just there.
You’re headed in the right direction toward becoming a fluent Spanish speaker! Once you master these direction words in Spanish, you’re ready to take on any Latin American travel destination or conquer Spain!
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Spanish is one of the most spoken languages around the world. According to CNN, there are around 41 million active speakers in the United States alone. By deciding to become bilingual, you expand your communication possibilities to a whole new level.
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Native speaker of English and Spanish, I’m a sustainable travel and social impact entrepreneur who loves going to new places and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. I love spending time with my family and being outdoors with my dogs. Writing, communicating, and creating are my passions. I strongly believe there are more creative ways to solve the issues our world is facing and I like doing my part in any way I can.
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