Understanding Spoken Directions in Spanish: Left, Right, and Straight Ahead
Learn to understand simple spoken directions in Latin American Spanish using izquierda, derecha, and derecho, so you can follow commands like 'Turn right at the bank.'
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
This lesson trains your ear, not your mouth. Instead of learning to give directions, you will learn to understand them when someone speaks quickly. The three most common words you will hear are izquierda (left), derecha (right), and derecho (straight ahead). You will also learn the verb doblar (to turn) and the preposition en (at), so you can catch the key words in a sentence like Doble a la derecha en el banco. Focus on listening for the direction word and the landmark, even if you miss everything else.
By the end, you can…
- recognize izquierda, derecha, and derecho when I hear them in a spoken direction.
- understand a short command like 'Turn right at the bank' and identify the landmark.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Doble a la derecha.
Turn right.
DOH-bleh ah lah deh-REH-chah
A direct command using the polite usted form. Doble is common in Latin America; in Spain you may hear gire instead.
Doble a la izquierda.
Turn left.
DOH-bleh ah lah ees-KYER-dah
The z in izquierda sounds like an s in Latin America and the Canary Islands, but like th in most of Spain.
Siga derecho.
Go straight ahead.
SEE-gah deh-REH-choh
Siga is a polite usted command. Derecho here means straight ahead, not right. Do not confuse it with derecha.
Doble a la derecha en el banco.
Turn right at the bank.
DOH-bleh ah lah deh-REH-chah en el BAHN-koh
The landmark comes after en. Listen for the direction word first, then the place.
Está a la izquierda, después del semáforo.
It is on the left, after the traffic light.
es-TAH ah lah ees-KYER-dah, des-PWEHS del seh-MAH-foh-roh
A longer sentence. Después del means after the. Semáforo is a traffic light.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Most spoken directions follow a simple pattern: command + direction + landmark. The command is often doble (turn) or siga (continue). The direction is a la derecha, a la izquierda, or derecho. The landmark comes after en or después de. For example: Doble a la izquierda en la farmacia (Turn left at the pharmacy). Siga derecho hasta el parque (Go straight until the park). If you only catch the direction word and the landmark, you can still follow the instruction.
When to use it
Use these phrases when someone is giving you directions in the street, in a building, or on the phone. Listen for the stressed syllables: deh-REH-chah and ees-KYER-dah. If you hear derecho without the final a, it means straight ahead, not right. For example, Siga derecho means go straight, while Doble a la derecha means turn right. In casual speech, people may drop the command and just say A la derecha, meaning to the right.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Disculpe, ¿cómo llego al banco?
Excuse me, how do I get to the bank?dees-KOOL-peh, KOH-moh YEH-goh al BAHN-kohSiga derecho dos cuadras y doble a la derecha en el banco.
Go straight two blocks and turn right at the bank.SEE-gah deh-REH-choh dohs KWAH-drahs ee DOH-bleh ah lah deh-REH-chah en el BAHN-koh¿Derecho dos cuadras y luego a la derecha?
Straight two blocks and then right?deh-REH-choh dohs KWAH-drahs ee LWEH-goh ah lah deh-REH-chahSí, exacto. El banco está a la izquierda del semáforo.
Yes, exactly. The bank is on the left of the traffic light.see, ek-SAK-toh. el BAHN-koh es-TAH ah lah ees-KYER-dah del seh-MAH-foh-rohA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, doble is the most common command for 'turn,' but in Spain you will often hear gire or torça. Also, izquierda and derecha are used for left and right, but derecho means straight ahead. In some regions, like Mexico, people may say a la derecha or a mano derecha for 'on the right.' Always listen for the context and the landmark.
One thing to watch for
Confusing derecho (straight) with derecha (right).
Try this instead: Derecho means straight ahead, while derecha means right. For example, Siga derecho means go straight, but Doble a la derecha means turn right. Listen for the final -a to know it is right.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You hear: 'Doble a la izquierda en el parque.' Which direction should you turn?
Show a sample answer
Left.
Izquierda means left. The landmark is el parque (the park).
2You hear: 'Siga derecho hasta la iglesia.' Do you turn or continue straight?
Show a sample answer
Continue straight.
Siga derecho means go straight. Hasta la iglesia means until the church.
3You hear: 'Está a la derecha, después del banco.' Is the place on the left or right?
Show a sample answer
On the right.
A la derecha means on the right. Después del banco means after the bank.
Listen for the direction word first: izquierda, derecha, or derecho. Then catch the landmark after en or después de. That is enough to follow the instruction.
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