1. Start in the square, facing north. Where is the café?
Answer: À sua direita.
Facing north, east is on your right. The café is east of the square.
Brazilian Portuguese · A practical learning resource
Practise Portuguese directions with a map
Find the café, change the way you are facing, and practise the difference between left, right, ahead and behind.
Give the words a place.
A useful direction depends on where the speaker is standing and which way they are facing. Right on a page is not always the speaker’s right. Use this fictional neighbourhood to separate the place from the direction.
Every exercise starts in the central square. Read the facing direction in the question before choosing your answer. North is always at the top of the map; buildings never move.
- Onde fica o café?
- Where is the café?
- À sua direita. / À sua esquerda.
- On your right. / On your left.
- Em frente a você. / Atrás de você.
- In front of you. / Behind you.
This page is written practice. Ask a Brazilian Portuguese speaker to model the phrases when you practise pronunciation.
↑ North / Norte
BibliotecaLibrary
BancoBank
FarmáciaPharmacy
HotelHotel
PraçaSquare · start here
CaféCafé
MercadoMarket
Ponto de ônibusBus stop
RestauranteRestaurant
Eight questions, one map.
Choose an answer, then check the explanations. Without JavaScript, use the questions and answers as a paper worksheet: cover each answer before trying it. The print version includes all questions and explanations.
2. Start in the square, facing north. Where is the hotel?
Answer: À sua esquerda.
The hotel is west of the square. West is on your left when you face north.
3. Start in the square, facing north. Where is the bank?
Answer: Em frente a você.
The bank is directly north of the square, in front of you.
4. Start in the square, facing north. Where is the bus stop?
Answer: Atrás de você.
The bus stop is south of the square, behind you when you face north.
5. Start in the square, facing south. Where is the café?
Answer: À sua esquerda.
Facing south reverses left and right on this map. East, where the café is, is now on your left.
6. Start in the square, facing south. Where is the hotel?
Answer: À sua direita.
The hotel stays west of the square. West is on your right when you face south.
7. Start in the square, facing east. Where is the café?
Answer: Em frente a você.
The café is directly east of the square. Facing east, you are looking towards it.
8. Start in the square, facing east. Where is the bank?
Answer: À sua esquerda.
The bank is north of the square. North is on your left when you face east.
Turn a direction into a short exchange.
Ask politely
— Com licença. Onde fica o café?
— Fica à sua direita.
— Obrigado! / Obrigada!
Excuse me. Where is the café? It is on your right. Thank you.
When the answer is unclear
Pode repetir mais devagar?
Pode me mostrar no mapa?
Can you repeat that more slowly? Can you show me on the map? In a real conversation, confirm the landmark or use a map when you are unsure.
For another round, point to a building and ask a partner to describe its position. Say which way you are facing first. This is a fictional language exercise rather than a real navigation route.
Rehearse the directions you may hear
Barbara Sharon’s travel Portuguese lessons are one option for practising questions, likely replies and clarification before a trip.
Explore travel lessons with Barbara