Phrases › Asking Directions › Vada dritto fino al semaforo, poi giri a destra.

Vada dritto fino al semaforo, poi giri a destra.

Go straight to the traffic light, then turn right.

Pronunciation

SEM-a-fo-ro — stress on first syllable. GI-ri — stress on first syllable.

When to use it

Understanding this phrase when someone gives you directions in Italian.

What it means

'Vada dritto' (go straight) uses the formal imperative of 'andare'. 'Fino a' (until/up to) + landmark. 'Giri a destra' (turn right) — 'giri' is formal imperative of 'girare'. Key direction verbs: andare (go), girare (turn), continuare (continue), attraversare (cross).

Variations

Giri a sinistra al prossimo incrocio.

Turn left at the next junction.

'Incrocio' is intersection/junction

Continui dritto per un chilometro.

Continue straight for one kilometre.

'Continui' is formal imperative of 'continuare'

Attraversi la piazza e poi prenda la seconda a destra.

Cross the square and then take the second on the right.

Complex directions with multiple steps

Mini Dialogue

— Come arrivo alla stazione? — Vada dritto fino al semaforo, poi giri a destra. La stazione è a duecento metri sulla sinistra. — Grazie. Ci sono indicazioni? — Sì, ci sono cartelli blu.

— How do I get to the station? — Go straight to the traffic light, then turn right. The station is two hundred metres on the left. — Thank you. Are there signs? — Yes, there are blue signs.

Cultural Note

Italian direction-giving tends to use landmarks (il semaforo, la piazza, la chiesa) rather than compass points. Italians rarely say 'north' or 'south' when giving directions in cities — they say 'verso il centro' (towards the centre) or 'verso la stazione' (towards the station). This landmark-based system works well in Italy's historic town centres.

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