Basic directions: Asking for directions
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Key Phrases
¿Me puede ayudar?
Can you help me?
¿Qué busca?
What are you looking for?
¿Cómo llego?
How do I get there?
Skills You'll Learn
Asking for help politely
Pedir ayuda con cortesía
Asking for and understanding directions
Pedir y entender direcciones
Thanking someone and responding politely
Dar las gracias y responder con cortesía
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are in a Spanish-speaking city asking a stranger for directions to the nearest metro station. You want to be polite, understand simple directions, and thank the person for their help.
Hola, disculpe. ¿Me puede ayudar?
Hello, excuse me. Can you help me?
Claro, dígame. ¿Qué busca?
Of course, tell me. What are you looking for?
Busco la estación de metro más cercana.
I'm looking for the nearest subway station.
Sí, está cerca de aquí.
Yes, it's near here.
¿Cómo llego?
How do I get there?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Hola
OH-lah
Hello
Disculpe
dees-KOOL-peh
Excuse me
🇲🇽 [Disculpe] is a polite, normal way to get a stranger's attention in Mexico before asking for directions. It lands better than jumping straight into your question.
See breakdown →Me
meh
Me
Puede ayudar
PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR
Can help
💬 In questions like [¿Me puede ayudar?], Spanish often uses [poder] + another verb: literally "can help." You can reuse the pattern with other verbs: [¿Me puede decir?] for "Can you tell me?"
See breakdown →¿Me puede ayudar?
meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR
Can you help me?
💬 This uses [me] before the verb, not after: [¿Me puede ayudar?], literally "Can you help me?" The same pattern works with other people too: [¿Nos puede ayudar?] for "Can you help us?"
🇲🇽 This is polite and natural for asking a stranger for help in Mexico, especially with [usted] forms like [puede]. It sounds more courteous than a bare [Ayúdeme].
See breakdown →Claro
KLAH-roh
Of course
Dígame
DEE-gah-meh
Tell me
🇲🇽 In this situation, [Dígame] usually means "Go ahead" or "Tell me," not a bossy command. It's a common, polite way for someone to invite your question after you say [Disculpe].
See breakdown →Qué
keh
What
Busca
BOOS-kah
Are you looking for
💬 [Busca] here means "are you looking for?" because Spanish often uses the present tense for what someone is doing right now. Compare [busco] = "I'm looking for" and [busca] = "you are looking for" in formal speech.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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