Vocabulary

Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List

Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Transcript

Intro

Hi, everyone. I’m Denise from SpanishPod101.com. In this video, we’ll be talking about How to Ask for and Give Directions. Let’s begin!
PHRASE 1
The first phrase is...
[Normal] ¿Dónde está el ~? [Slow] ¿Dónde está el ~?
"Where is the ~?"
For example, you can say ¿Dónde está el banco?
which means "Where is the bank?"
Remember that locations and places are also categorized by gender. In this case, banco ("bank") is masculine, so el is put before it, but a feminine location would have la. For example, la escuela ("the school").
PHRASE 2
The next phrase is...
[Normal] Necesito ir a ~. [Slow] Necesito ir a ~.
This means "I need to go to the ~."
For example, you can say Necesito ir a la estación de policía.
This means "I need to go to the police station."
The first word necesito means "I need." Even though it is being used to say that you need to go to a location, it can also be used to say you need something.
PHRASE 3
The next phrase is...
[Normal] ¿Cómo llego a ~? [Slow] ¿Cómo llego a ~?
This means "How do I get to the ~?"
For example, you can say ¿Cómo llego a el museo?
which means "How do I get to the museum?"
Remember that it is very common to be given directions not with street names or numbers but by describing noticeable buildings or landmarks as a guide.
PHRASE 4
The next phrase is...
[Normal] ¿Hay un ~ cerca de aquí? [Slow] ¿Hay un ~ cerca de aquí?
This means "Is there a ~ near here?"
For example, you can say ¿Hay una biblioteca cerca de aquí?
which means "Is there a library near here?"
As we already said, keep in mind the gender. Biblioteca ("library") is feminine, so you have to say una biblioteca.
PHRASE 5
[Normal] Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde está ~? [Slow] Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde está ~?
This means "Excuse me, do you know where the ~ is?"
Don't be afraid to ask for directions; people will be glad to help you in Mexico.
For example, you can ask Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde está el parque?
to say "Excuse me, do you know where the park is?"
PHRASE 6
[Normal] ¿Está ~ lejos de aquí? [Slow] ¿Está ~ lejos de aquí?
This means "Is the ~ far from here?"
For example, you can say ¿Está la oficina postal lejos de aquí?
which means, "Is the post office far from here?"
Remember that Spanish questions start with an upside-down question mark.
PHRASE 7
[Normal] de vuelta a la izquierda [Slow] de vuelta a la izquierda
This means "turn left."
Unless you are talking to someone you know very well, give directions using the polite form.
For example, De vuelta a la izquierda en la segunda cuadra means "Turn left at the second block."
PHRASE 8
[Normal] de vuelta a la derecha [Slow] de vuelta a la derecha
This means "turn right."
When giving or receiving directions, "turn" will always be the phrase dar vuelta, literally "give turn."
Here is a sentence. De vuelta a la derecha en el tercer semáforo.
This means, "Turn right at the third traffic light."
PHRASE 9
[Normal] vaya derecho [Slow] vaya derecho
"go straight"
Don't confuse the word for "right," derecha, with "straight," derecho!
PHRASE 10
[Normal] pase [Slow] pase
"go past"
Conjugate the verb pasar ("to pass") to say go past.
For example, Pase la iglesia means "Go past the church."
PHRASE 11
[Normal] en la ezquina de [Slow] en la ezquina de
"at the corner of"
For example, you can say Está en la ezquina de esta avenida.
Which means, "It's at the corner of this avenue."
Street signs will abbreviate the word avenida as Av., Avda. or Avd.
PHRASE 12
[Normal] enfrente de [Slow] enfrente de
"in front of"
La estación de camión esta enfrente del supermercado.
"The bus station is in front of the supermarket."
The phrase de el ("of the" masculine), is shortened to del.
PHRASE 13
[Normal] detrás [Slow] detrás
"behind"
For example, you can say El estacionamiento está detrás del cine,
which means "The parking lot is behind the movie theater."
Another very common word in Latin America to say "behind" is atrás.
PHRASE 14
[Normal] al lado de [Slow] al lado de
"next to"
For example, you can say El restaurante está al lado del parque,
which means "The restaurant is next to the park."
In Spanish, the phrase a el, ("to the" masculine), is shortened to al. For example, "I went to the park" is Fui al parque instead of Fui a el parque.
PHRASE 15
[Normal] entre [Slow] entre
"between"
La tienda está entre el café y la tienda de mascotas.
"The store is between the coffee shop and the pet store."
Here is an example of the word "the" being used in its masculine and feminine form -- el or la.
PHRASE 16
[Normal] opuesto [Slow] opuesto
"opposite"
For example, Está en el lado opuesto de la calle.
"It's on the opposite side of the street."
Opuesto also means "opposed" (masculine).
PHRASE 17
[Normal] Está al lado de ~. [Slow] Está al lado de ~.
"It's next to ~."
For example, you can say Está al lado de la escuela, which means "It's next to the school."

Outro

Okay, that's all for this lesson. Which phrase do you like most? Leave us a comment letting us know. And we'll see you next time!
Hasta la próxima!

Comments

Hide