Learn how to ask and give directions
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Intro |
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| 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! |
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