Directions and Locations in Spanish: A1 Vocabulary Guide
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Key Takeaways
- Learn essential vocabulary for asking for and giving directions
- Master prepositions of location and movement
- Understand how to describe where places are in relation to each other
- Practice full conversations for navigating Spanish-speaking cities
Finding Your Way in Spanish
Now that you know transportation methods and city places, let’s learn how to connect them! This guide will teach you how to ask for directions, understand responses, and describe locations confidently in Spanish.
Basic Direction Words (Palabras Básicas de Dirección)
Fundamental vocabulary for navigation and location.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Where? | ¿Dónde? | ¿Dónde está el banco? (Where is the bank?) |
| Here | aquí / acá | Estamos aquí. (We are here.) |
| There | allí / ahí | El restaurante está allí. (The restaurant is there.) |
| Near | cerca | Vivo cerca del centro. (I live near the center.) |
| Far | lejos | El aeropuerto está lejos. (The airport is far.) |
| Right | derecha | Gira a la derecha. (Turn right.) |
| Left | izquierda | La tienda está a la izquierda. (The store is on the left.) |
📍 Regional Note: “Aquí” and “acá” both mean “here,” but “acá” is more common in Latin America. “Allí” and “ahí” both mean “there,” with “ahí” indicating something closer than “allí.”
Prepositions of Location (Preposiciones de Lugar)
Essential words for describing where things are located.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| In / On | en | El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.) |
| Next to | al lado de | El banco está al lado del supermercado. (The bank is next to the supermarket.) |
| Between | entre | La farmacia está entre el banco y la panadería. (The pharmacy is between the bank and the bakery.) |
| In front of | delante de / enfrente de | El parque está delante del museo. (The park is in front of the museum.) |
| Behind | detrás de | El estacionamiento está detrás del edificio. (The parking lot is behind the building.) |
| Across from | frente a | El café está frente al teatro. (The cafe is across from the theater.) |
Movement and Directions (Movimiento y Direcciones)
Vocabulary for giving and understanding directions.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Straight ahead | todo recto / derecho | Siga todo recto dos calles. (Go straight ahead two blocks.) |
| Turn | girar / doblar | Gire a la izquierda en la esquina. (Turn left at the corner.) |
| Cross | cruzar | Cruce la calle con cuidado. (Cross the street carefully.) |
| Continue | continuar / seguir | Siga por esta calle. (Continue on this street.) |
| Stop | parar | Pare en el semáforo. (Stop at the traffic light.) |
| Corner | la esquina | En la esquina hay una farmacia. (On the corner there is a pharmacy.) |
Landmarks and Reference Points (Puntos de Referencia)
Common reference points used in directions.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic light | el semáforo | Doble en el segundo semáforo. (Turn at the second traffic light.) |
| Intersection | el cruce | En el cruce, gire a la derecha. (At the intersection, turn right.) |
| Bridge | el puente | Cruce el puente y siga recto. (Cross the bridge and continue straight.) |
| Roundabout | la rotonda | Tome la segunda salida en la rotonda. (Take the second exit at the roundabout.) |
| Block | la cuadra / la manzana | Camina dos cuadras más. (Walk two more blocks.) |
Useful Phrases for Asking Directions
Essential questions for when you’re lost or looking for places.
Basic Questions:
- “Disculpe, ¿dónde está…?” (Excuse me, where is…?)
- “¿Cómo puedo llegar a…?” (How can I get to…?)
- “¿Sabe dónde hay un/una…?” (Do you know where there is a…?)
- “Estoy buscando…” (I’m looking for…)
Asking About Distance:
- “¿Está lejos?” (Is it far?)
- “¿A qué distancia está?” (How far is it?)
- “¿Puedo ir caminando?” (Can I walk there?)
- “¿Cuánto tiempo se tarda?” (How long does it take?)
Clarifying Directions:
- “¿A la derecha o a la izquierda?” (To the right or to the left?)
- “¿En qué calle?” (On what street?)
- “¿Podría repetir, por favor?” (Could you repeat, please?)
- “¿Hay alguna señal?” (Is there any landmark?)
Useful Phrases for Giving Directions
How to help others find their way.
Starting Directions:
- “Es fácil…” (It’s easy…)
- “No está lejos…” (It’s not far…)
- “Tiene que…” (You have to…)
- “Primero…” (First…)
Giving Step-by-Step Directions:
- “Siga por esta calle…” (Continue on this street…)
- “Gire en la primera/seconda calle…” (Turn on the first/second street…)
- “Cruce la plaza…” (Cross the square…)
- “Cuando vea… gire…” (When you see… turn…)
Ending Directions:
- “Lo verá a la izquierda/derecha.” (You’ll see it on the left/right.)
- “No se puede perder.” (You can’t miss it.)
- “Está justo ahí.” (It’s right there.)
Putting It All Together: Complete Directions Dialogue
Tourist: “Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde hay un cajero automático?”
Local: “Sí, hay uno cerca. Siga todo recto por esta calle hasta el semáforo.”
Tourist: “¿Todo recto hasta el semáforo?”
Local: “Exacto. En el semáforo, gire a la izquierda. Luego camine dos cuadras más.”
Tourist: “¿A la izquierda en el semáforo y luego dos cuadras?”
Local: “Sí. El cajero está al lado de una farmacia, enfrente de un supermercado.”
Tourist: “Perfecto, ¿está lejos?”
Local: “No, está a cinco minutos caminando. No se puede perder.”
Tourist: “Muchísimas gracias por su ayuda.”
Local: “De nada, que le vaya bien.”
Translation:
Tourist: “Excuse me, do you know where there’s an ATM?”
Local: “Yes, there’s one nearby. Go straight on this street to the traffic light.”
Tourist: “Straight to the traffic light?”
Local: “Exactly. At the traffic light, turn left. Then walk two more blocks.”
Tourist: “Left at the traffic light and then two blocks?”
Local: “Yes. The ATM is next to a pharmacy, across from a supermarket.”
Tourist: “Perfect, is it far?”
Local: “No, it’s five minutes walking. You can’t miss it.”
Tourist: “Thank you very much for your help.”
Local: “You’re welcome, have a good day.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing “derecha” (right) and “izquierda” (left)
- Using “en” for all locations – learn specific prepositions like “al lado de”
- Forgetting articles: “a la derecha” not “a derecha”
- Mixing up “cerca” (near) and “lejos” (far)
- Not using “disculpe” to get attention politely
Quick Reference Chart
| Category | Spanish Words & Phrases |
|---|---|
| Basic Directions | derecha, izquierda, recto, cerca, lejos |
| Prepositions | en, al lado de, entre, delante de, detrás de |
| Movement | girar, cruzar, seguir, parar |
| Asking Directions | “¿Dónde está…?” “¿Cómo llego a…?” |
| Giving Directions | “Siga…” “Gire…” “Cruce…” |
Practice Exercise: Give Directions to Your Home
Try describing how to get to your home from a nearby landmark:
- Start from a well-known place
- Give 3-4 direction steps
- Mention 1-2 landmarks
Example: “Desde el supermercado, gire a la derecha. Siga todo recto dos calles. Gire a la izquierda en la farmacia. Mi casa es la tercera a la derecha, al lado del parque.”
Ready to Practice?
Think you can give and understand directions in Spanish? Test your navigation skills!
Take our Directions & Locations Quiz ► to make this vocabulary stick.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
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