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Directions in Spanish

Find your bearings with compass points, street landmarks and movement words.

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Left, right and compass directions in Spanish

A la derecha means to the right and a la izquierda means to the left. Practice focuses on the direction terms rather than full instructions.

Derecho can mean straight ahead; derecha means right. Context distinguishes these similar-looking words.

  • la derecharight (direction) · lah deh-REH-chah
  • la izquierdaleft (direction) · lah ees-KYEHR-dah
  • el nortenorth · el NOR-teh
  • el sursouth · el SOOR
  • el esteeast · el EHS-teh
  • el oestewest · el oh-EHS-teh
  • el norestenortheast · el noh-REHS-teh
  • el noroestenorthwest · el noh-roh-EHS-teh
  • el surestesoutheast · el soo-REHS-teh
  • el suroestesouthwest · el soo-roh-EHS-teh
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Directions in Spanish: the full list

Review the meanings and pronunciation, then use the printable worksheet to recall each Spanish answer.

Quick answer: right (direction) is la derecha, left (direction) is la izquierda, north is el norte, south is el sur, east is el este, west is el oeste, northeast is el noreste, northwest is el noroeste, southeast is el sureste, and southwest is el suroeste.

Left, right and compass directions in Spanish

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
right (direction)la derechalah deh-REH-chah
left (direction)la izquierdalah ees-KYEHR-dah
northel norteel NOR-teh
southel surel SOOR
eastel esteel EHS-teh
westel oesteel oh-EHS-teh
northeastel noresteel noh-REHS-teh
northwestel noroesteel noh-roh-EHS-teh
southeastel suresteel soo-REHS-teh
southwestel suroesteel soo-roh-EHS-teh

Spanish street words for giving directions

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
streetla callelah KAH-yeh
avenuela avenidalah ah-beh-NEE-dah
corner (street)la esquinalah ehs-KEE-nah
city blockla cuadralah KWAH-drah
intersectionel cruceel KROO-seh
traffic lightel semáforoel seh-MAH-foh-roh
roundaboutla rotondalah roh-TOHN-dah
sidewalkla aceralah ah-SEH-rah
pedestrian crossingel paso de peatonesel PAH-soh deh peh-ah-TOH-nehs
bridgeel puenteel PWEHN-teh

Spanish words for following a route

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
straight aheadtodo rectoTOH-doh REHK-toh
nearbycercaSEHR-kah
far awaylejosLEH-hohs
opposite (location)enfrenteehn-FREHN-teh
behinddetrásdeh-TRAHS
next toal lado deahl LAH-doh deh
to turngirarhee-RAHR
to crosscruzarkroo-SAHR
to continueseguirseh-GEER
to go backvolverbohl-BEHR
Directions in Spanish chart with English meanings and Spanish pronunciation
Directions in Spanish chart with English meanings and Spanish pronunciation. Download the chart · Printable worksheet · Save to Pinterest

Questions about directions in spanish

How do you say left and right in Spanish?

Left is izquierda and right is derecha. A la izquierda and a la derecha mean to the left and to the right.

What does todo recto mean?

Todo recto means straight ahead. Derecho is another common way to express the same direction.

How do you say city block in Spanish?

Cuadra is common in Latin America; manzana is also used, particularly in Spain. Both describe a block bounded by streets.

What is the difference between esquina and rincón?

Esquina is an outside or street corner. Rincón usually describes an inside corner or a small tucked-away place.

What are the compass points in Spanish?

The four main points are norte, sur, este and oeste. They are normally written in lowercase.

How do you politely tell someone to turn?

Use gire or doble, such as gire a la derecha. The infinitives practiced here are girar and doblar.

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