español · A2 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Asking for directions
Turn visible landmarks into a short sequence of commands.
Understand the choice
Give directions as a chain of small, visible actions. Start with movement—seguir, girar, cruzar—then anchor each action to a street feature such as a corner, square, or traffic light.
Core rule: Direction sequences use commands, landmarks, and connectors such as luego and después.
Notice it in context
Sigue recto, gira a la izquierda y cruza la plaza.
Go straight, turn left, and cross the square.
Direction sequences use commands, landmarks, and connectors such as luego and después.
Gira a la derecha en el semáforo.
Turn right at the traffic light.
En identifies the turning point.
El banco está al final de la calle.
The bank is at the end of the street.
Al final de locates the destination.
What to remember
- Todo recto and sigue recto both mean to continue straight; the second is a direct instruction.
- Turn left or right with girar a la izquierda or a la derecha; the article is part of the phrase.
Common trap: Do not say gira en la izquierda for “turn left.” Use a la izquierda for direction and en la esquina for the place where the turn happens.