How to Ask for Directions in Italian

How to Ask for Directions in Italian Michelangelos Sistine Chapel is around the corner. Or so you thought the sign said until you ended up lost and without any idea how to get where you wanted to be. Avoid missing the highlights of Italy with these simple phrases and keywords for asking for directions in Italian. Vocabulary Let’s start with some must know vocabulary words. Some of the most common words you’ll encounter are: Andare - To goCamminare - To walkGirare - To turnFermare - To stopDiritto (dritto) - StraightA destra - RightA sinistra - LeftNord - NorthSud - SouthOvest - WestEst - EastVicino - CloseLontano - Far When giving directions in Italian, the Imperative mood is used. For the most common verbs listed above, the Imperative mood  is as follows: Andare – (tu) VAI/va’, (lui, lei, Lei) vada, (voi) andateCamminare – (tu) cammina, (lui, lei, Lei) cammini, (voi) camminateGirare – (tu) gira, (lui, lei, Lei) giri, (voi) girateFermare – (tu) ferma, (lui, lei, Lei) fermi, (voi) fermate Besides this keyword vocabulary, it is also important to know how to describe where something can be found. In English these types of directions would translate to, â€Å"The bar is around the corner† or â€Å"It is in front of the market.† Phrases In Italian instead, you want to use these descriptive directional phrases: Vicino a - Close to / near / nearbyDietro a - BehindAll’angolo con - At the corner ofDavanti a (di fronte a) - In front of / across fromAll’incrocio con - At the intersection ofAccanto a - Next to Additionally, the following sentences are worth memorizing and will ensure you get the right directions every time. Mi sono perso/a, Lei puà ² aiutarmi? - I am lost, can you help me?Cerco†¦ - I am looking for†¦   Ã‚     - Il teatro - The theater   Ã‚     - La stazione - The train station   Ã‚     - Il supermercato - The supermarket   Ã‚     - Un ristorante - A restaraunt   Ã‚     - Un bagno - A bathroom   Ã‚     - L’aeroporto - The airport Quantà ¨ lontano a...? - How far is it to...Dove sono i gabinetti? - Where is the bathroom? (polite way to ask in a public place)Dovà ¨ il bagno? - Where is the bathroom?Posso usare il bagno, per favore? - Can I use the bathroom, please?Me lo puà ² indicare sulla mappa/cartina, per favore? - Can you show me on the map, please? Typical responses to requests for directions include: A destra - RightA sinistra - LeftVicino - NearLontano - FarGira a - Turn toIl primo/la prima a destra - First on the rightIl secondo/la seconda a sinistra - Second on the left Some more handy tips: Often times, when asked where something is, Italians will answer â€Å"Vada sempre diritto!†   It means Straight ahead!One kilometer (or un chilometro in Italian) 0.62 miles.If you cant find what youre looking for, enjoy what youve found. Sometimes when traveling, the best experiences happen serendipitously.