
Key Phrases
Svolta a sinistra
Left turn
Dritto avanti
Straight ahead
In cima
On top
Skills You'll Learn
Giving directions
Dare indicazioni
Understanding positional vocabulary
Comprendere il vocabolario di posizione
Describing locations
Descrivere le posizioni
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Lato sinistro
LAH-toh see-NEES-troh
Left side
Lato destro
LAH-toh DES-tro
Right side
Svolta a sinistra
ZVOLL-tah ah see-NEE-strah
Left turn
💬 For directions, Italian often uses [a] with left/right: [a sinistra], [a destra]. You'll see the same pattern in full instructions like [gira a sinistra] — "turn left."
See breakdown →Svolta a destra
ZVOLL-tah ah DEH-strah
Right turn
💬 For directions, Italian often uses [a] with left/right: [a destra], [a sinistra]. You'll see the same pattern in full instructions like [gira a destra] — "turn right."
See breakdown →Dritto avanti
DREET-toh ah-VAHN-tee
Straight ahead
💬 [Dritto] and [diritto] can both mean "straight" in directions. In real speech, you may also hear [sempre dritto] for "keep going straight."
See breakdown →Proprio qui
PROH-pryo kwee
Right here
💬 [Proprio] adds emphasis: not just "here," but "right here" or "exactly here." You can reuse it the same way in [proprio lì] — "right there."
See breakdown →Nord
NOR-d
North
Sud
SOOD
South
Est
EST
East
Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
Get PrettyFluent for smart practice & lasting retention
More from "Basic directions"
Similar Italian Lessons

Check in counter
At the airport

Common vocab and phrases
At the airport

Boarding at the gate
At the airport

Essential communication
Top 50 phrases to get by Italy (Advanced)

Getting around and shopping
Top 50 phrases to get by Italy (Advanced)

Dining out
Top 50 phrases to get by Italy (Advanced)
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Spent the summer in Tuscany researching Italian cuisine. Being able to chat with nonnas at the market about recipes? Absolutely priceless.”
Grace P., 34, Food Writer
“Working on a project in Milan and needed professional Italian fast. The business scenarios gave me the confidence to present to clients within a month.”
Daniel F., 45, Architect
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer