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Catalan · Getting around · Elementary

How to ask for directions in Catalan

Start with “Perdoni, si us plau”, then ask “Perdoni, on és l'estació?”. To check it’s walkable: “Hi puc anar a peu?” or “Quant es triga a peu?”. Listen for “tot recte” (straight on), “a la dreta” (right) and “a l'esquerra” (left). If you’re unsure, ask “M'ho pot mostrar al mapa?”.

Try it · about two minutes

You stop a passer-by to ask the way to the station and whether it’s walkable.

Sound on: the passer-by speaks Catalan. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. You’re looking for the train station. You stop someone in the street.

    You

    Perdoni, si us plau.

    Excuse me, please.

  2. Passer-by

    Ho sento, no ho sé.

    Sorry, I don’t know.

    You

    No s'amoïni.

    Don’t worry.

  3. Passer-by

    És clar, endavant.

    Of course, go ahead.

    You

    Perdoni, on és l'estació?

    Excuse me, where is the station?

  4. Passer-by

    Baixi per aquest carrer i giri a la dreta a la cantonada.

    Go down this street and turn right at the corner.

    You

    Hi puc anar a peu?

    Can I walk there?

  5. Passer-by

    Són uns deu minuts a peu.

    It’s about ten minutes on foot.

    You

    M'ho pot mostrar al mapa?

    Can you show me on the map?

  6. Passer-by

    No es pot perdre.

    You can’t miss it.

    You

    Gràcies, ho he entès.

    Thanks, I understand.

Key phrases

  • Perdoni, si us plau.

    Excuse me, please.

  • Perdoni, on és l'estació?

    Excuse me, where is the station?

  • Hi puc anar a peu?

    Can I walk there?

  • Quant es triga a peu?

    How long does it take on foot?

  • M'ho pot mostrar al mapa?

    Can you show me on the map?

  • Vagi tot recte.

    Go straight on.

  • Giri a la dreta.

    Turn right.

  • Giri a l'esquerra al semàfor.

    Turn left at the traffic lights.

  • Són uns deu minuts a peu.

    It’s about ten minutes on foot.

  • Gràcies per l'ajuda.

    Thanks for your help.

Good to know in Catalonia

How to ask

  1. 1

    Start with “Perdoni”.

    Excuse me, please.
  2. 2

    Ask for the place, then whether it’s walkable.

    Can I walk there?
  3. 3

    Repeat the key turn back to check you’ve got it.

Recte, dreta, esquerra

Tot recte is straight on, a la dreta is on the right and a l'esquerra is on the left. A la cantonada means at the corner, and el semàfor is the traffic lights.

Giri a l'esquerra al semàfor.

Turn left at the traffic lights.

Perdoni with strangers

To a stranger

Perdoni, on és l'estació?

Excuse me, where is the station?

Among friends

Perdona, on és l'estació?

Excuse me, where is the station?

Perdoni, the vostè form, is the safe choice with a stranger. Younger people often use perdona, the tu form, with each other.

More situations in Catalan

All situations in Catalan

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.