Spanish phrases for directions, with audio
Perdona, ¿dónde está la estación de metro?
“Excuse me, where is the metro station?”
When: Approaching someone on the street
The moment
You are lost in the center of Seville and need to ask a passerby how to get to the nearest metro station.
A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around
The lines
Stopping a stranger
Open with "perdona" (informal) or "perdone" (formal) — excuse me. It signals you need help without being abrupt.
Perdona, ¿dónde está la estación de metro?
“Excuse me, where is the metro station?”
When to use it: Approaching someone on the street
What you’ll hear back: Sigue todo recto y gira a la izquierda.
Understanding the answer
The three words you will hear: "recto" (straight), "izquierda" (left), "derecha" (right). Repeat them back to confirm.
¿Todo recto y luego a la derecha?
“Straight ahead and then right?”
When to use it: Confirming directions you just heard
What you’ll hear back: Eso es. Está a cinco minutos.
Words for this scene
| Spanish | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| ¿dónde está...? | DON-deh ehs-TAH | where is...? |
¿Dónde está la estación de metro? Where is the metro station? Tip: Works for any place: el baño, la plaza, el museo. | ||
| todo recto | TOH-doh REK-toh | straight ahead |
Sigue todo recto hasta la plaza. Keep going straight until the square. Tip: The most common direction you will hear. | ||
| a la izquierda / derecha | ah lah ees-KYER-dah / deh-REH-chah | to the left / right |
El metro está a la derecha. The metro is on the right. Tip: Izquierda = left, derecha = right — easy to mix up under pressure. | ||
Your objective
Ask how to get where you’re going, then check one detail: which way to turn or how far it is.
- where you’re going
- which way or how far
Lines that get it done
- ¿Dónde está la estación de metro? · Where is the metro station?
- ¿Todo recto y luego a la derecha?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. How do you politely stop a stranger to ask something?
- Perdona
- Oye tú
- Ven aquí
- Silencio
Show the answer
Perdona
"Perdona" (or formal "perdone") is the polite opener.
2. "Todo recto" means...
- Straight ahead
- Turn around
- Uphill
- Next door
Show the answer
Straight ahead
Recto = straight. You will hear it constantly.
3. Which is "to the left"?
- A la izquierda
- A la derecha
- Al final
- Arriba
Show the answer
A la izquierda
Izquierda is left; derecha is right.