Right, Left and Straight Ahead in Spanish
Derecha, izquierda, and todo recto carry the core of many simple directions. Recognise each phrase quickly and connect it with movement or a pointing gesture.
Learning objective
Recognise derecha, izquierda, and todo recto in simple directions.
Imagine three arrows on a pocket card. A la derecha means to the right, a la izquierda means to the left, and todo recto means straight ahead. These are direction chunks, short groups of words learned together. Your first job is recognition: connect each sound group to one arrow before trying to give directions yourself.
A speaker may add está, meaning it is located: Está a la derecha means It is on the right. They may also point and say Por allí, meaning That way. Do not wait to understand every word. Catch derecha, izquierda, or recto, look at the gesture and surroundings, then confirm the clue that affects your next move.
Spanish uses derecha and izquierda in these phrases without copying the English word order right at or left at. Treat a la derecha and a la izquierda as fixed map labels. Todo recto literally suggests all straight and functions as straight ahead; learning the whole phrase prevents an English-shaped version that local listeners must untangle.
Short routes often use sigue, meaning continue or keep going when one person is addressed informally. Sigue todo recto means Continue straight ahead. This is a prepared instruction you need to recognise, not a new verb pattern to produce today. If the setting calls for a different form of address, the speaker may use another form; the direction clue remains useful.
Confirm one step at a time: ¿Todo recto?, Straight ahead? or ¿A la izquierda?, To the left? Then say gracias. Real directions may include landmarks and regional wording, so ask again if the route grows longer than your listening capacity. Successful survival listening means reaching the place safely, not pretending every sentence was clear.
Examples
A la derecha.
To the right.
Associate derecha with a right-pointing arrow.
A la izquierda.
To the left.
Izquierda is the key word for the opposite turn.
Todo recto.
Straight ahead.
Learn the two words as one route instruction.
Sigue todo recto.
Continue straight ahead.
Sigue tells one informal listener to continue.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Todo derecho.
- Try
- Todo recto.
Derecho can occur in direction language in some regions and contexts, so it is not categorically impossible. For this beginner route card, todo recto is the taught, widely useful phrase for straight ahead; recognise local alternatives without marking speakers wrong.
Practice
Try it yourself
Draw three arrows: left, straight, right. Label them in Spanish. Then imagine someone says Sigue todo recto y está a la derecha. Circle the first movement and underline the final location.