Asking for Directions on the Street

Key vocabulary

• dóndeadv.

  where

  “¿Dónde está el baño?”— Where is the bathroom?

  Pattern ¿Dónde está...? (Where is...?)

  Compare adónde (where to)

  no conjugation

  💡 From Latin 'de unde', meaning 'from where'; question words often carry an accent mark.

• derechaf.

  right (direction)

  “El banco está a la derecha.”— The bank is on the right.

  Pattern a la derecha (on the right)

  Compare lado derecho (right side)

  feminine noun, plural: derechas

  💡 Related to 'derecho' (law, right), but note the different gender; learn it with the phrase 'a la derecha'.

• izquierdaf.

  left (direction)

  “La tienda está a la izquierda.”— The shop is on the left.

  Pattern a la izquierda (on the left)

  Compare lado izquierdo (left side)

  feminine noun, plural: izquierdas

  💡 From Basque 'ezkerra'; also used for political 'left', but in daily use it mostly refers to direction.

• estaciónf.

  station

  “La estación está cerca.”— The station is nearby.

  Pattern estación de tren (train station)

  Compare parada (bus stop)

  feminine noun, plural: estaciones

  💡 From Latin 'statio', cognate with English 'station'; note the stress on the last syllable.

• museom.

  museum

  “El museo es grande.”— The museum is big.

  Pattern visitar el museo (to visit the museum)

  Compare galería (gallery)

  masculine noun, plural: museos

  💡 From the Greek Muses, goddesses of the arts; think of 'música' (music), which shares the same root.