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Click to hear the Podcast!<\/a><\/p>\n Today we\u2019re going to learn how to ask for and how to give directions.<\/p>\n Com licen\u00e7a, estou perdido. Siga por esta rua aqui, direto. Valeu irm\u00e3o!<\/i><\/p>\n First, the polite way to get someone\u2019s attention is by saying excuse me: com licen\u00e7a<\/b>. This can apply to many social situations, when you\u2019d like to talk to someone or ask someone a question. It\u2019s okay to admit you don\u2019t know where you are or where you\u2019re going, with a simple \u201cI\u2019m lost\u201d: estou perdido<\/b>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking for\u201d is estou procurando<\/b>. Then we say the name of the place or street, in this case, a street: a Rua Vin\u00edcius de Moraes<\/b>.<\/p>\n We use the phrase seguir por<\/b> for \u201cgo,\u201d and the word direto<\/b> is \u201cstraight.\u201d Together, \u201cGo straight on this road\u201d becomes siga por esta rua aqui, direto<\/b>.<\/p>\n Next, we use the verb virar<\/b> for \u201cturn.\u201d To say \u201cturn left,\u201d we say vire \u00e0 esquerda<\/b>, and to say \u201cturn right,\u201d we say vire \u00e0 direita<\/b>. Note that we use the imperative form of virar<\/i> (vire<\/i>) since we are telling a person what to do. Also note that \u201cleft\u201d and \u201cright\u201d are a esquerda<\/i> and a direita <\/i>alone, but when paired with a directional verb like virar<\/i>, get a grave accent on the a (\u00e0).<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at some of the key nouns. Sinal<\/b> is stoplight, so we say \u201cturn right at the next stoplight\u201d with vire \u00e0 esquerda no pr\u00f3ximo sinal<\/b>. Depois<\/b> is \u201cnext,\u201d or \u201cafter.\u201d Ent\u00e3o<\/b> is \u201cthen.\u201d<\/p>\n When giving directions in any language, it\u2019s important to give landmarks. So in this case, the speaker mentions \u201cSendas supermarket\u201d (o supermercado Sendas<\/i>) which is a Rio supermarket chain. We use the future tense here, saying, \u201cYou will see\u201d (ir\u00e1 ver<\/b>), since we aren\u2019t giving orders, but rather making a prediction about the future.<\/p>\n Finally, ent\u00e3o vire \u00e0 direita nesta esquina<\/b> means \u201cThen turn right at the corner.\u201d We know to use the subjunctive, since we\u2019re telling the person what to do. We use nesta<\/b>, \u201cthis\u201d since we are referring directly to the particular corner where Sendas supermarket is located.<\/p>\n As a review, valeu<\/b> is a slangy way of saying thanks. Irm\u00e3o<\/b> is another slang word, which literally means brother, but in context means \u201cman.\u201d So valeu irm\u00e3o<\/i> means \u201cthanks, man!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEstou procurando a Rua Vin\u00edcius de Moraes. <\/i><\/p>\n
\nVire \u00e0 esquerda no pr\u00f3ximo sinal.
\nDepois, vire \u00e0 direita.
\nIr\u00e1 ver o supermercado Sendas.
\nEnt\u00e3o vire \u00e0 direita nesta esquina.<\/i><\/p>\n