Basic directions: Asking for directions
Get Full LessonPractice pronunciation and master this lesson with smart-repetition via the PrettyFluent App
Key Phrases
Perdona. ¿Me puedes ayudar?
Excuse me. Can you help me?
Busco la estación de metro más cercana.
I'm looking for the nearest metro station.
Sigue recto y gira a la izquierda en la farmacia.
Go straight and turn left at the pharmacy.
Skills You'll Learn
Asking politely for help in public
Pedir ayuda de forma educada en público
Asking about distance and location
Preguntar por la distancia y la ubicación
Understanding and following simple directions
Entender y seguir indicaciones sencillas
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are in Spain asking a friendly local for directions to the nearest metro station. You want to understand simple directions and reply politely.
Perdona, ¿me puedes ayudar?
Excuse me, can you help me?
Sí, claro. ¿Qué necesitas?
Yes, of course. What do you need?
Busco la estación de metro más cercana.
I'm looking for the nearest subway station.
Está cerca de aquí.
It's close by.
¿Está lejos?
Is it far?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Perdona.
pehr-DOH-nah
Excuse me.
🇪🇸 In Spain, [perdona] is a normal, polite way to stop a stranger for directions. If you want to sound a bit more formal, especially with older people, use [perdone].
See breakdown →¿Me puedes ayudar?
meh PWEH-dehs ah-yoo-DAR
Can you help me?
💬 [Me puedes ayudar] literally says "can you help me," but Spanish often uses the present like this for polite requests. You can reuse the pattern with other verbs: [¿me puedes decir...?] for "can you tell me...?".
See breakdown →Sí, claro.
see CLAH-roh
Yes, of course.
¿Qué necesitas?
keh neh-seh-SEE-tahs
What do you need?
Busco...
BOOS-koh
I'm looking for...
💬 [Busco] means "I'm looking for," from [buscar]. In Spain, [c] before [o] is a normal hard (k) sound, so [busco] is said roughly (BOOS-koh).
See breakdown →La estación de metro
lah eh-stah-see-OHN deh MEH-troh
The metro station
Más cercana
mahs sehr-KAH-nah
The nearest
💬 [Más cercana] changes to match the thing you're talking about. With a masculine noun, you'd say [más cercano], as in [el bar más cercano].
See breakdown →La estación de metro más cercana
lah eh-stah-see-OHN deh MEH-troh mahs sehr-KAH-nah
The nearest subway station
💬 To say "the nearest ..." in Spanish, you often use [más] + the adjective: [más cercana] here. You can swap in other nouns: [el banco más cercano], [la parada más cercana].
See breakdown →Está cerca.
eh-TAH SEHR-kah
It is close.
Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
Get PrettyFluent for smart practice & lasting retention
More from "Basic directions"
Similar Spain Spanish Lessons
Essential communication
Top 50 phrases to get by Spain
Getting around and shopping
Top 50 phrases to get by Spain
Dining out
Top 50 phrases to get by Spain
Essential communication
Top 50 phrases to get by Spain (Advanced)
Getting around and shopping
Top 50 phrases to get by Spain (Advanced)
Dining out
Top 50 phrases to get by Spain (Advanced)
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“This app is my secret weapon in Barcelona! Just enough to go about daily life and no more feeling lost or helpless while my husband and I live abroad.”
Michelle C., 30, Mom of Two
“I spent a month backpacking through Colombia and this app was a lifesaver. The scenario-based lessons meant I could handle real situations from day one.”
Rachel T., 26, Travel Blogger
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager