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Italian · Getting around · Elementary

How to ask for directions in Italian

Start with “Scusi”: “Scusi, dov’è la stazione?”. Listen for vada dritto (go straight on), giri a destra or a sinistra (turn right or left) and al semaforo (at the lights). Then check: “Si può andare a piedi?”. Italians often give distances in minutes: “Sono circa dieci minuti a piedi.”

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 Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. You’re looking for the station, so you stop someone on the pavement.

    You

    Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

    Excuse me, where’s the station?

  2. Passer-by

    Percorra questa strada e giri a destra all'angolo.

    Follow this road and turn right at the corner.

    You

    Si può andare a piedi?

    Can you walk there?

  3. Passer-by

    Sono circa dieci minuti a piedi.

    It’s about ten minutes on foot.

    You

    Allora, dritto e poi a destra all'angolo?

    So, straight on and then right at the corner?

  4. Passer-by

    Non può sbagliare.

    You can’t miss it.

    You

    Grazie mille, gentilissimo.

    Thanks so much, that’s very kind.

  5. Passer-by

    Mi dispiace, non sono di qui.

    Sorry, I’m not from here.

    You

    Non si preoccupi, grazie.

    Don’t worry, thanks.

  6. Passer-by

    È un po' difficile da trovare, la accompagno io.

    It’s a bit hard to find, so I’ll take you there.

    You

    Grazie per l'aiuto.

    Thank you for your help.

Key phrases

  • Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

    Excuse me, where’s the station?

  • Quanto è lontano?

    How far is it?

  • Si può andare a piedi?

    Can you walk there?

  • Quanto ci vuole a piedi?

    How long does it take on foot?

  • Vada dritto.

    Go straight on.

  • Giri a sinistra.

    Turn left.

  • Giri a destra.

    Turn right.

  • Al semaforo giri a sinistra.

    Turn left at the traffic lights.

  • Sono circa dieci minuti a piedi.

    It’s about ten minutes on foot.

  • Può mostrarmelo sulla mappa?

    Can you show me on the map?

Good to know in Italy

Directions, word by word

  1. 1

    Dritto: straight on.

    Go straight on.
  2. 2

    A destra, a sinistra: right, left.

    Turn right.
  3. 3

    Al semaforo: at the traffic lights.

    Turn left at the traffic lights.

Start with scusi

“Scusi” is the polite way to stop a stranger. “Scusa” is the tu form, for people your own age or younger.

Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

Excuse me, where’s the station?

Distances in minutes

People usually tell you how long it takes on foot rather than how far. Ten minutes a piedi is an easy walk.

Sono circa dieci minuti a piedi.

It’s about ten minutes on foot.

More situations in Italian

All situations in Italian

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.