How to Ask for Directions in Spanish

When traveling in a foreign country, there are several key phrases that will get you around successfully. Aside from "Thank you" and "Please," knowing how to ask for directions is absolutely crucial. And it's not as difficult as you think! By learning a few words and the correct way to pronounce them, you'll be off and running around every "plaza mayor" (pla-THA my-YOUR) that you can handle! (Plaza mayor is an open courtyard that is very common in Spanish cities). So learn the phrases, don't forget to smile, and fearlessly embark!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pick a destination. While consulting a guidebook, get a rough idea of your bearings, and try to familiarize yourself with large street names.

2. Stop a local. Always ask first if they speak English--it will spare you a lot of embarrassment! So first, ask "Habla Ingles?" Remember that "Si" (pronounced SEE) is yes, and "No" is No.

3. Ask for directions. If they do not speak English, ask, "Donde esta _____?" This means "Where is....?" If you're asking for something relatively obscure, either point on the map or ask for the street address of your destination to be more specific.

4. Listen carefully! Spanish tends to be a very fast language. "Derecha" (da-RAY-cha) means right, and "Izquierda" (iss-KEY-yair-DA) means left, so listen carefully for those two words!

5. Ask them to slow down, and repeat. If you can't understand your guide for their fast speech, ask, "Mas despacio, por favor" . "Mas despacio" (maas dess-PASS-e-oh) means "more slowly" and "por favor" (poor FAH-vor) means please.

6. Enjoy your Spanish speaking trip!

Tips & Warnings

• Remember your vowel pronunciation: A = "ah" E = "ay" I = "ee" O = "oh" U = "ooh". Consonant sounds are very similar to English.
• In Spain, the Spanish pronounce "v" as "B", so "por favor" becomes "por fabor". Listen carefully for that when asking for directions!
• Always thank the person giving you directions!