There are lots of expressions associated with giving and receiving directions in any language. But these four expressions are essential to moving around confidently in Portugal:
🧭 à direita – to the right
🧭 à esquerda – to the left
🧭 em frente – straight ahead
🧭 para trás – backwards / back
In this post, we’ll break down what they mean, when to use them, and how to sound like a local when asking for or giving directions in European Portuguese.
👉 À direita (to the right)
“À direita” literally means “to the right.” You’ll hear this when someone is giving directions or describing where something is.
📍Examples:
- Vira à direita depois do semáforo. – Turn right after the traffic light.
- A farmácia fica à direita da padaria. – The pharmacy is to the right of the bakery.
🔎 Grammar note: The “à” is the contraction of “a” + “a” (preposition + feminine article), because “direita” is feminine.
👈 À esquerda (to the left)
This one follows the same structure as “à direita”, but means “to the left”.
📍Examples:
- Segue em frente e depois vira à esquerda. – Go straight and then turn left.
- O café fica logo à esquerda da igreja. – The café is just to the left of the church.
🗣️ Pro tip: These phrases are very common when following GPS directions or listening to a local give walking instructions. Portuguese GPS voices will say:
- “Vire à esquerda” – Turn left
- “Vire à direita” – Turn right
Watch this video where I’ve done just that with Google Maps!
⬆️ Em frente (straight ahead)
“Em frente” means “straight ahead” or “keep going forward”. It’s useful both for walking and driving.
📍Examples:
- Siga em frente até à rotunda. – Go straight ahead until the roundabout.
- A estação fica em frente ao supermercado. – The station is in front of the supermarket.
💡Watch out! “Em frente” can also be used to say something is directly opposite another thing (like across the road).
⬅️ Para trás (turn back/backwards)
“Para trás” means “backwards” or “behind you.” You’ll often hear it if you’ve missed a turn or walked too far.
📍Examples:
- Tens de voltar para trás. – You have to go back.
- O carro está estacionado um pouco mais para trás. – The car is parked a bit further back.
⚠️ Important: Portuguese uses “voltar para trás” (literally “return backwards”) a lot more than English does. In English, “go back” is enough, but in Portuguese, it’s common to say the full phrase.
🗺️ Bonus expressions you might hear:
- Vire ali à direita/esquerda (Turn there on the right/left)
- Siga sempre em frente (Keep going straight)
- Tem de voltar para trás (You need to go back)
- É logo ali à direita (It’s just there on the right)
For more examples and details, check this post out.
✨ Real-life tip
When in doubt, use gestures! Portuguese people will often point or wave their hand in the direction they mean, especially if they see you’re a foreigner. Don’t be afraid to ask:
🗣️ Desculpe, pode dizer-me onde fica o supermercado? (Excuse me, can you tell me where the supermarket is?)