Spanish

Getting Directions

Learn how to ask where places are and understand basic directions.

5 min

The main question

“¿Dónde está…?” asks where a place is.

Use it for the bathroom, metro, station, beach, street or any other location.

Ask for a place

01¿Dónde está el metro?Where is the metro?02¿Dónde está la estación?Where is the station?03¿Dónde está el baño?Where is the bathroom?04¿Dónde está la playa?Where is the beach?

Direction words

01a la derechaPronunciation: ah lah deh-REH-chahto the right02a la izquierdaPronunciation: ah lah eeth-KYEHR-dahto the left03todo rectoPronunciation: TOH-doh REHK-tohstraight ahead04aquíhere05allíthere

Cerca and lejos tell you whether the walk is short or long.

01

Cerca

Está cercaPronunciation: es-TAH THEHR-kah.It’s nearby.

02

Lejos

Está lejos.It’s far away.

Location phrases

01al lado denext to02enfrente deopposite03cerca denear04detrás debehind05delante dein front of

Contraction

“A + el” becomes “al.”

Voy al centro means “I’m going to the centre.” Spanish combines a and el into al.

Ask how to get somewhere

01¿Cómo llego al centro?Pronunciation: KOH-moh YEH-goh al THEN-trohHow do I get to the centre?02¿Se puede ir andando?Can you walk there?03¿Está muy lejos?Is it very far?04¿Es por aquí?Is it this way?

Remember this

Listen for recto, derecha, izquierda and cerca.

Even if you miss the rest of the sentence, those four words often give you enough to follow the direction.

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-09-07

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