Directions

1. On és l'estació de metro?

   on es les-ta-si-O de ME-tro

   Where is the metro station?

   Usage

   Find a metro station in Barcelona

   Grammar Note

   "l'estació" elides "la estació". "és" is the third-person singular present of "ser"

2. Gireu a l'esquerra

   dzi-REU a les-KER-ra

   Turn left

   Usage

   Give directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Gireu" is the plural imperative of "girar" (to turn). "a l'esquerra" elides "a la"

3. Gireu a la dreta

   dzi-REU a la DRE-ta

   Turn right

   Usage

   Give directions to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "dreta" is feminine; uses "la". "Esquerra" (left) and "dreta" (right) in Catalan

4. Aneu tot recte

   a-NEU tot REK-te

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Tell someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Aneu" is the plural imperative of "anar" (to go). "tot recte" = "completely straight"

5. Quant hi ha fins al centre?

   kwan i a fins al SEN-tre

   How far is it to the centre?

   Usage

   Ask how far the city centre is

   Grammar Note

   "hi ha" expresses existence (there is). "Quant hi ha" asks "how much distance is there"

6. Pareu al semàfor

   pa-REU al se-MA-for

   Stop at the traffic lights

   Usage

   Tell a taxi driver where to stop

   Grammar Note

   "al" contracts "a" + "el". "Pareu" is the plural imperative of "parar" (to stop)

7. On és el caixer automàtic més proper?

   on es el kai-SHER ow-to-MA-tik mes pro-PER

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Find the nearest ATM when you need cash

   Grammar Note

   "més proper" is the superlative "més + adjective" construction; "caixer automàtic" = ATM

8. Com s'arriba al barri gòtic?

   kom sa-RI-ba al BA-ri GO-tik

   How do you get to the Gothic Quarter?

   Usage

   Ask how to reach Barcelona's Gothic Quarter or another landmark

   Grammar Note

   "s'arriba" is a reflexive passive (impersonal); "al" contracts "a" + "el"

9. És lluny?

   es LYUN

   Is it far?

   Usage

   Quickly check if the destination is far

   Grammar Note

   "lluny" functions as an adverb here. The "ll" in Catalan is a palatal lateral approximant

10. Pot mostrar-ho al mapa?

    pot mos-TRA-ro al MA-pa

    Can you show it on the map?

    Usage

    Ask someone to point out a location on the map when verbal instructions are unclear

    Grammar Note

    "-ho" is the clitic pronoun "ho" (it) appended to the verb. "al" contracts "a" + "el"

11. la dreta

    Right

    Usage

    Right as a direction — quicker than a sentence in a moving taxi. Signs show it as "a la dreta" (to the right)

12. l'esquerra

    Left

    Usage

    Left as a direction; also seen as "a l'esquerra" (to the left)

13. tot recte

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Keep going straight — a one-word instruction for a driver or a passer-by

14. Doneu la volta

    Turn around / go back

    Usage

    Ask the driver to turn back when you have overshot

    Grammar Note

    "Doneu" is the plural imperative of "donar", matching the polite "Gireu" / "Aneu" used elsewhere in this category

15. Pareu

    Stop (here)

    Usage

    Tells the driver to stop; point at the spot where you want to get out

16. el nord

    North

    Usage

    North; used when matching a map or a motorway sign

17. el sud

    South

    Usage

    South as a compass direction

18. l'est

    East

    Usage

    East as a compass direction

19. l'oest

    West

    Usage

    West as a compass direction

20. la parada d'autobús

    Bus stop

    Usage

    A bus stop; a long-distance coach terminal is "l'estació d'autobusos"

21. el metro

    Metro (subway)

    Usage

    The underground

22. el caixer automàtic

    ATM (cash machine)

    Usage

    A cash machine; show the card to a passer-by to ask where one is

23. l'oficina de canvi

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    A bureau de change; shopfronts usually read "Exchange" or "Canvi"

24. la bugaderia d'autoservei

    Self-service laundry

    Usage

    A coin laundry. Plain "la bugaderia" can also mean a full-service laundry, so "d'autoservei" is kept

25. els lavabos

    Toilets (public)

    Usage

    The plural form used on wayfinding signs inside buildings, posted as "Lavabos" or "WC"; show it when asking the way

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