Directions vocabulary includes essential words and phrases for navigating and giving instructions about how to get from one place to another. This typically covers basic positional words, types of turns, common landmarks, and key expressions used in travel and everyday life.
Contents
- A1: Basic Directions
- A2: Giving and Understanding Directions
- B1: Intermediate Directions and Navigation
- B2: Detailed Directions and Transportation
- C1: Complex Directions and Urban Navigation
- C2: Precision, Ambiguity, and Advanced Usage
A1: Basic Directions
At the A1 level, learners acquire simple and essential direction words and phrases to understand and give basic instructions for moving around.
Key A1 Directions Vocabulary
| English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Japanese | Chinese | Arabic | Russian | Portuguese | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left | Gauche | Links | Izquierda | Sinistra | 左 (ひだり) | 左边 (zuǒbiān) | يسار (yasar) | Лево (Levo) | Esquerda | The direction opposite to right |
| Right | Droit/Droite | Rechts | Derecha | Destra | 右 (みぎ) | 右边 (yòubiān) | يمين (yamin) | Вправо (Vpravo) | Direita | The direction opposite to left |
| Straight | Tout droit | Geradeaus | Derecho | Dritto | まっすぐ (massugu) | 直走 (zhí zǒu) | إلى الأمام (ila al-amam) | Прямо (Pryamo) | Em frente | Move forward without turning |
| Stop | Arrêtez | Halt | Alto/Para | Fermati | 止まれ (tomare) | 停 (tíng) | توقف (taqaf) | Стоп (Stop) | Pare | Cease moving |
| Here | Ici | Hier | Aquí | Qui | ここ (koko) | 这里 (zhèlǐ) | هنا (huna) | Здесь (Zdes) | Aqui | At this place |
| There | Là | Dort | Allí | Lì | そこ (soko) | 那里 (nàlǐ) | هناك (hunak) | Там (Tam) | Ali | At that place |
| Near | Près | In der Nähe | Cerca | Vicino | 近く (chikaku) | 附近 (fùjìn) | قريب (qarib) | Рядом (Ryadom) | Perto | Close to |
| Far | Loin | Weit | Lejos | Lontano | 遠く (tōku) | 远 (yuǎn) | بعيد (ba'id) | Далеко (Daleko) | Longe | A long distance from something |
Left in French is 'Gauche'.
Right in Spanish is 'Derecha'.
Straight in German is 'Geradeaus'.
Basic Phrases
- Can you help me?: A1 learners can use simple phrases to ask for assistance with directions.
- Where is...?: Students learn to ask where places are, using common question formats.
- I am lost.: Expressing that they need help or directions.
A2: Giving and Understanding Directions
A2 learners can both give and follow simple directions, using common landmarks and straightforward language.
Typical A2 Phrases for Directions
- Turn left/right.
- Go straight.
- Stop at the corner/traffic light.
- Cross the street.
- It’s next to/across from...
Landmarks Vocabulary
| English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Japanese | Chinese | Arabic | Russian | Portuguese | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corner | Coin | Ecke | Esquina | Angolo | 角 (かど) | 角落 (jiǎoluò) | زاوية (zawiya) | Угол (Ugol) | Esquina | Where two streets meet |
| Traffic light | Feu rouge | Ampel | Semáforo | Semaforo | 信号機 (しんごうき) | 红绿灯 (hóng lǜ dēng) | إشارة مرور (isharat murur) | Светофор (Svetofor) | Semáforo | Controls traffic at intersections |
| Street | Rue | Straße | Calle | Strada | 通り (とおり) | 街道 (jiēdào) | شارع (shari') | Улица (Ulitsa) | Rua | A public road |
| Bridge | Pont | Brücke | Puente | Ponte | 橋 (はし) | 桥 (qiáo) | جسر (jisr) | Мост (Most) | Ponte | Connects two areas over water |
| Plaza/Square | Place | Platz | Plaza | Piazza | 広場 (ひろば) | 广场 (guǎngchǎng) | ميدان (maydan) | Площадь (Ploshchad) | Praça | An open public area |
Traffic light in Spanish is 'Semáforo'.
Corner is 'Coin' (French), 'Ecke' (German), 'Esquina' (Spanish), 'Angolo' (Italian).
B1: Intermediate Directions and Navigation
B1 learners handle more detailed directions, including intermediate landmarks and using maps.
Intermediate Directions Phrases
- Take the second/third street on the left/right.
- Follow the signs to...
- You will see...
- At the roundabout, take the... exit.
Landmarks and Navigation Vocabulary
| English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Japanese | Chinese | Arabic | Russian | Portuguese | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundabout | Rond-point | Kreisverkehr | Glorieta | Rotonda | ラウンドアバウト(わ) | 环岛 (huán dǎo) | دوار (duwar) | Круг (Krug) | Rotunda | Circular intersection |
| Intersection | Intersection | Kreuzung | Cruce | Incrocio | 交差点 (こうさてん) | 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu) | تقاطع (taqatu') | Перекрёсток (Perekrёstok) | Cruzamento | Where two or more roads cross |
| Landmark | Repère | Wahrzeichen | Punto de referencia | Punto di riferimento | 目印 (めじるし) | 地标 (dìbiāo) | معلم (me'lam) | Ориентир (Orientir) | Ponto de referência | A recognizable object used for directions |
Please provide a single-choice answer.
Intersection in Italian is 'Incrocio'.
B2: Detailed Directions and Transportation
B2 learners use precise language for directions, incorporate multiple steps, and discuss various transportation modes.
Transportation and Direction Vocabulary
| English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Japanese | Chinese | Arabic | Russian | Portuguese | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway/Metro | Métro | U-Bahn/S-Bahn | Metro | Metropolitana | 地下鉄 (ちかてつ) | 地铁 (dìtiě) | مترو (mitru) | Метро (Metro) | Metrô | Underground train system |
| Bus stop | Arrêt de bus | Bushaltestelle | Parada de autobús | Fermata dell'autobus | バス停 (バスてい) | 公交车站 (gōngjiāo chē zhàn) | موقف الباص (muwaqif albas) | Автобусная остановка | Parada de ônibus | Where buses stop |
| Ticket | Billet | Fahrkarte | Billete | Biglietto | きっぷ (きっぷ) | 票 (piào) | تذكرة (tadhkira) | Билет (Bilet) | Bilhete | Proof of payment for travel |
| Transfer | Correspondance | Umsteigen | Transbordo | Cambio | 乗り換え (のりかえ) | 换乘 (huànchéng) | تحويل (tahwil) | Пересадка (Peresadka) | Baldeação | Changing from one vehicle to another |
Bus stop in French is 'Arrêt de bus'.
C1: Complex Directions and Urban Navigation
C1 learners master nuanced navigation, express conditional directions, and understand complex urban layouts.
Advanced Directions Concepts
- If you reach..., you’ve gone too far.
- Take the elevator/escalator to...
- The office/building is on the upper/lower floor.
- Navigate through the pedestrian zone...
Urban Navigation Vocabulary
| English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Japanese | Chinese | Arabic | Russian | Portuguese | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian zone | Zone piétonne | Fußgängerzone | Zona peatonal | Zona pedonale | 歩行者天国 (ほこうしゃてんごく) | 步行区 (bùxíng qū) | منطقة مشاة | Пешеходная зона | Zona pedonal | Area designated for foot traffic |
| Overpass | Passerelle | Überführung | Paso elevado | Sovrappasso | 高架橋 (こうかきょう) | 立交桥 (lìjiāoqiáo) | جسر علوي | Эстакада | Passarela | A bridge for crossing over roads/rails |
| Underpass | Passage souterrain | Unterführung | Paso subterráneo | Sottopassaggio | 地下道 (ちかどう) | 地下通道 (dìxià tōngdào) | نفق (nafaq) | Подземный переход | Passagem subterrânea | A passage below roads |
Pedestrian zone in French is 'Zone piétonne'.
Overpass in German is 'Überführung'.
C2: Precision, Ambiguity, and Advanced Usage
C2 learners use directions with precision, handle ambiguous situations, and employ idiomatic and metaphorical language.
Language for Nuance and Ambiguity
- Roughly... / Approximately...
- It’s a stone’s throw away.
- You can’t miss it.
- It’s tucked away/down a side street.
Idiomatic and Metaphorical Directions
- At the end of the line. (Literal & figurative: both as a place and a situation)
- Off the beaten track.
- In the driver’s seat.
'Off the beaten track' means in a remote or less commonly visited place.
Typical phrases for approximation include 'Roughly...', 'Approximately...', and 'A stone’s throw away'.
'You can’t miss it' means the landmark or destination is very obvious.
Directions vocabulary is essential for travel and everyday navigation, spanning from simple words to complex, idiomatic expressions. Mastery of directions improves communication, independence, and cultural understanding.
- Directions vocabulary covers travel, daily life, and cross-cultural communication.
- Progresses from basic terms (left, right) to advanced phrases and idioms.
- Key for language learners at all levels and real-world situations.
‘Delicious’ is not a directions word.
A ‘landmark’ is a recognizable reference point for giving directions.
Phrases like ‘Turn left at the second street’ and ‘Follow the signs’ give precise directions.