Directions in Italian
It’s time to master directions in Italian! Check out this free audio lesson for the essential travel Italian you’ll need to navigate your way around Italy.
I wish it were as simple as learning the word for 'where' in Italian and a few Italian road signs, but there’s a little more to it than that!
As you may have already guessed, understanding the directions you are given can be more challenging than asking the questions. But have no fear – just listen to the Italian pronunciation in the audio and practice saying the Italian words and phrases aloud, as you imagine yourself strolling around Florence or driving through Tuscany!
Resources for further reading:
Asking for directions in Italian
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Italian pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
Dove posso trovare la stazione dei treni, per cortesia?
Where can I find the train station, please?
Come posso arrivare alla stazione dei treni?
How do I get to the train station?
Sa (Lei) dove si trova la stazione dei treni?
Do you know where the train station is? (formal)
Sai (tu) dove si trova la stazione dei treni?
Do you know where the train station is? (casual)
Another more complete way of asking for directions is by saying…
Mi scusi, potrebbe dirmi dove si trova la stazione dei treni, per favore?
Excuse me, could you please tell me where the train station is? (formal)
Scusa, potresti dirmi dove si trova la stazione dei treni, per favore?
Excuse me, could you please tell me where the train station is? (casual)
Here's a list of some places you might like to go to and places you may pass on the way to getting there.
L'agenzia di viaggio
The travel agency
La strada
The street
Il centro commerciale
The shopping center
Il centro storico
The historic center
La stazione di polizia
The police station
L'ospedale
The hospital
Il parco
The park
Il municipio
The town hall
I bagni pubblici / le toilette pubbliche
The public restrooms
Il centro città
The town center
La periferia
The suburb
Il monumento
The monument
Il bar
The bar
Here are some words and phrases you might get to hear when asking for directions in Italian…
Sinistra
Left
Destra
Right
A sinistra
To the left
A destra
To the right
Dritto / diritto
Straight
Alla fine di
At the end of
All'inizio di
A the beginning of
A ovest
To the west
A nord
To the north
A sud
To the south
A est
To the east
When someone gives you directions in Italian, they'll tell you that you need to take such-and-such street, turn left, and then follow another street…
Prenda… / Prendi…
Take… (formal / informal)
Attraversa… / Attraversi…
Cross (formal / informal)
Segua… /Segui…
Follow (formal / informal)
Vada... / Vai...
Go (formal / informal)
Dietro l'angolo
Around the corner
La prossima strada a sinistra
The next street to the left.
La prossima strada a destra
The next street to the right.
La prossima strada
The street after the next.
L'angolo
The corner
Il ponte
The bridge
Di fronte a
In front of
Vicino a
Next to
Now, you might want to know whether it is far or not…
È molto lontano?
Is it very far?
È lontano.
It's far.
Non è lontano.
It's not far.
È vicino?
Is it close by?
È vicino.
It's close by.
Non è vicino.
It's not close by.
For more lessons on Italian vocabulary I recommend these!
- Like seafood? Know your fish in Italian with this lesson
- Understand the menu with this lesson on food in Italian
- Christmas? New Years Day? Discover the major holidays in Italian
A presto!
Maria DiLorenzi and the Rocket Italian Team
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