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Directions in Spanish

How to Ask for and Give Directions in Spanish

Knowing how to ask for and give directions in Spanish is very important when traveling abroad to a Spanish speaking country.

Although sometimes it can be an adventure to get lost when traveling abroad, it isn’t always as much fun. Getting completely lost in a city you don’t know, can sometimes be stressful and even dangerous.

Thus, I gathered the vocabulary that you need to ask for and give directions in Spanish in this post, in order to get ready to your next trip. 🙂

Directions in Spanish – Vocabulary

LOCATIONS AND LANDMARKS

When asking for or giving directions, it is important to know some key vocabulary.

SPANISHENGLISH
El apartamento
Apartment
El aseo/los aseos
El baño/los baños
El cuarto de aseo/baño
El lavabo
El servicio/los servicios
Bathroom
Restroom
La autopista
La autovía
Freeway
Highway
La avenida
Avenue
El barrio
Neighborhood
La biblioteca
Library
La calle
Street
El camino
Unpaved road
Way
Path
La carretera
Road
Highway
La catedral
Cathedral
El centro
Center
Downtown
El edificio
Building
La escuela
El colegio
School
La estación de autobuses
La terminal de autobuses
Bus station
La estación de metro
Metro station
La estación de tranvía
Tram station
Streetcar station
La estación de tren
Train station
El hostal

Hostel
El hotel
Hotel
La iglesia
Church
El jardín

Garden
La lavandería
laundromat
La manzana
Block
El mercado
Market
El museo
Museum
La oficina de correos
Post office
La oficina de turismo
Tourism office
El palacio

Palace
La parada de autobús
Bus stop
El parque
Park
La playa
Beach
La plaza
Square
Plaza
La plaza de toros
Bullring
El puerto

Port
Harbor
El restaurante

Restaurant
El río
River
El supermercado
Supermarket
Grocery store
El teatro
Theater
La tienda
Shop
El zoológico
Zoo

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

Prepositions of place or location express where things are often, relative to other objects or to other people, places and things.

SPANISHENGLISH
Alrededor de
Around
Al lado de
Junto a
Next to
Antes de

Before
Atrás de
Behind
In the back of
Cerca de
Junto a
Near
Close to
Debajo de
Under
Underneath
Beneath
Below
Delante de
Ahead of
In front of
Dentro de
En
Inside
In
Después de
After
Detrás de
Behind
En
In
On
Encima de
Sobre
En
Above
On
On the top of
Over
Enfrente de
Frente a
Delante de
Across from
Facing
In front of
Opposite

Entre
Between
Fuera de
Out of
Lejos de
Far from
Far away from

ADVERBS AND ADVERB PHRASES OF PLACE

Adverbs and adverb phrases of place express where the action of the verb is carried out.

SPANISHENGLISH
Abajo
Below
Down
Downstairs
Underneath
Ahí
There
Al lado
Nearby
A la derecha
To the right
On the right
Al final
At the end
Al fondo
At the back
At the end
A la izquierda
To the left
On the left
Al otro lado
Across
On the other side
Allí
Over there
Aquí
Here
Arriba
Above
Up
Upstairs
Cerca
Nearby
Close
Near
Close by
Debajo
Beneath
Underneath
Delante
Ahead
At front
In front
Dentro
Inside
Derecho
Recto
Straight
Straight ahead
Detrás
At the back
Behind
Encima
Above
On
On top
Over
Enfrente
Across
Opposite
In front of
Fuera
Outside
Lejos
Far
Far away

HOW TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS

There are many ways to ask for directions. Above all, keep in mind the main verbs we use are: Estar, encontrar, encontrarse, ir, llegar and quedar.

SpanishEnglish
¿Cómo llego al centro?
How do I get/arrive to Downtown?
¿Cómo puedo llegar a la estación de tren?
How can I get/arrive to the train station?
¿Cómo se llega al mercado?
How do you get/arrive to the market?
¿Cómo se va al museo?
¿Cómo voy al museo?
How do I go to the museum?
¿Cómo voy desde la plaza hasta el centro?
How do I go from the square to/until downtown?
¿Dónde está el baño?
Where is the bathroom/restroom?
¿Dónde puedo encontrar la biblioteca?
Where can I find the library?
¿Dónde queda la calle Aragón?

Where is Aragón street?
¿Dónde se encuentra la catedral?
Where is the cathedral?
¿En qué parte del barrio se encuentra la oficina de correos?
In what part of the neighborhood is the post office?
¿Qué hay detrás del teatro?

What is behind the theater?

HOW TO GIVE DIRECTIONS

It is not all about learning how to ask for directions, you also have to understand those directions.

SpanishEnglish
Detrás del teatro hay un restaurante
Behind the theater there is a restaurant
El baño está al fondo
The bathroom is at the back
Gire/a/as a la derecha
Turn to the right
La biblioteca se encuentra en el centro
The library is in downtown
La calle Aragón queda cerca de la estación de autobuses
Aragón street is close to the bus station
La oficina de correos se encuentra en el centro
The post office is in downtown
Siga/sigue/sigues derecho/recto
Keep straight
Tome/a/as la avenida San Antonio
Coja/coge/es la avenida San Antonio
Take San Antonio avenue
Vaya/ve/vas derecho/recto hasta la plaza Cataluña
Go straight until Cataluña Square
Vaya/ve/vas hacia la calle Valencia
Go toward Valencia street

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, I made easier for you to learn and practice how to ask for and give directions in Spanish.

I encourage you to get familiar with this vocabulary and use it in your next adventure! 🙂

Have you ever been lost in a Spanish speaking country? Were you able to find your way?

Leave your answers below, in the comment section.

Before you leave, do Spain and its language interest you? Then, you may find our online Spanish classes helpful. With these classes, you will practice your speaking and listening skills with a native speaker from Spain.


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