Travel and Directions in Spanish

Grade 5 · Spanish · Study Guide

Learn how to ask for and give directions in Spanish using common travel vocabulary.

Knowing how to ask for directions is an essential skill when traveling in a Spanish-speaking country. In Spanish, you can ask 'Where is...?' by saying '¿Dónde está...?' followed by the place you are looking for. For example, '¿Dónde está el banco?' means 'Where is the bank?'

When giving directions, several key phrases are used. 'Gira a la derecha' means 'Turn right' and 'Gira a la izquierda' means 'Turn left.' To tell someone to go straight, say 'Sigue recto' or 'Sigue derecho.' 'Dobla' can also be used to mean 'turn,' as in 'Dobla a la derecha.'

You can indicate distance with phrases like 'Está cerca' (It is nearby) and 'Está lejos' (It is far). To say something is on a specific block, you might say 'Está en la calle...' (It is on the street...). Another helpful phrase is 'Cruzar la calle,' which means 'to cross the street.'

Common places you might look for when traveling include: el aeropuerto (the airport), la estación de tren (the train station), el hotel (the hotel), el museo (the museum), la farmacia (the pharmacy), and el mercado (the market).

When someone helps you, always respond with 'Gracias' (Thank you) and they may reply '¡De nada!' (You're welcome). Being polite is important in any language.

Key terms

¿Dónde está...?
Spanish phrase meaning 'Where is...?' used to ask for the location of a place.
Gira a la derecha
Spanish phrase meaning 'Turn right.'
Gira a la izquierda
Spanish phrase meaning 'Turn left.'
Sigue recto
Spanish phrase meaning 'Go straight.'
Está cerca
Spanish phrase meaning 'It is nearby' or 'It is close.'
Está lejos
Spanish phrase meaning 'It is far.'

Flashcards

¿Dónde está...?
Where is...? Used to ask for directions to a place.
Gira a la derecha
Turn right.
Gira a la izquierda
Turn left.
Sigue recto
Go straight ahead.
Está cerca
It is nearby / It is close.
Está lejos
It is far away.
el aeropuerto
The airport.
la estación de tren
The train station.

Questions

  1. How do you ask 'Where is the museum?' in Spanish?

    1. ¿Qué es el museo?
    2. ¿Dónde está el museo?
    3. ¿Cómo está el museo?
    4. ¿Por qué está el museo?
    Show answer

    Answer: ¿Dónde está el museo?

    '¿Dónde está...?' means 'Where is...?' It is the correct phrase to ask for the location of something.

  2. To tell someone to go straight in Spanish, you say 'Sigue ________.'

    Show answer

    Answer: recto

    'Sigue recto' means 'Go straight.' 'Sigue derecho' is also accepted and means the same thing.

  3. 'Gira a la izquierda' means 'Turn right' in Spanish.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    'Gira a la izquierda' means 'Turn LEFT.' 'Gira a la derecha' means 'Turn right.'

  4. What does 'Está lejos' mean in English?

    1. It is nearby
    2. It is to the left
    3. It is far
    4. It is closed
    Show answer

    Answer: It is far

    'Lejos' means 'far.' 'Cerca' means 'nearby.' These are important opposites for giving directions.

  5. The Spanish word for airport is el ________.

    Show answer

    Answer: aeropuerto

    El aeropuerto is Spanish for 'the airport,' a common place travelers need to find when visiting a Spanish-speaking country.

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