New here? This is lesson 87 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.
Free Spanish CourseLesson 87 of 238
Two blocks away in Spanish
Justin is walking through colonia El Laurel when a stranger stops him with a neighborhood question.
You’ll learn to say how many blocks away a place is, name a nearby landmark, and give a simple straight-ahead direction.
You’ll also ask for the street name and describe a place as close. The stranger wants Café Laurel, not Yako’s mysterious legend.
By the end of this lesson
Give simple directions using blocks, landmarks, and street names.
- ¿Hay un ___ por aquí?Is there a ___ around here?
- Queda a dos cuadrasIt's two blocks away
- Al lado del parqueNext to the park
- Sigues derecho y está ahíGo straight and it's right there
- ¿Cómo se llama la calle?What's the street called?
- Queda cercaIt's close
Scene — a question on the sidewalk
Late morning on a sidewalk in colonia El Laurel. Justin is walking toward Café Laurel when a stranger stops beside a small neighborhood park.
The café is two blocks away, and Yako is watching from two chairs near the entrance.
Learn — nearby places and directions
These six chunks help you locate a place in everyday Mexico City conversation.
Notice how cuadras gives a distance, while al lado del parque adds a landmark.
¿Hay un ___ por aquí?
Is there a ___ around here?
When to use it: Use this to ask whether a particular place or business is nearby.
Fill the blank with a place, such as café or restaurante.
Queda a dos cuadras
It's two blocks away
When to use it: Use this to give a distance of two city blocks.
Queda means it is located; learn the whole chunk as one piece.
Say it: KAY-dah ah dos KWAH-drahs.
Al lado del parque
Next to the park
When to use it: Use this to identify a place by saying it is next to the park.
Al lado de means next to, and del combines de with el.
Say it: ahl LAH-doh del PAR-keh.
Sigues derecho y está ahí
Go straight and it's right there
When to use it: Use this to tell someone to continue straight until the place appears.
Sigues speaks to tú; it means you continue or go on.
Say it: SEE-gehs deh-REH-cho ee eh-STAH ah-EE.
¿Cómo se llama la calle?
What's the street called?
When to use it: Use this to ask for the name of a street.
Calle means street; literally, this asks what the street calls itself.
Say it: KOH-moh seh YAH-mah lah KAH-yeh.
Queda cerca
It's close
When to use it: Use this when a place is nearby and the exact distance is not important.
Cerca means close or near, while queda says where it is located.
Story — the café, not a legend
Watch Justin answer a stranger’s question about Café Laurel. The highlighted chunks show distance, a landmark, and the route.
Turn on Show English if you need help. The stranger is looking for the café, not Yako’s legend.
- Late morning. Justin passes a small park near Café Laurel.
- StrangerDisculpa, ¿hay un café por aquí?Excuse me, is there a café around here?
JustinSí, queda cerca.Yes, it's close.- Stranger¿A cuántas cuadras?How many blocks away?
- JustinQueda a dos cuadras.It's two blocks away.
- Stranger¿Dónde está exactamente?Where exactly is it?
- JustinAl lado del parque.Next to the park.
- Stranger¿Cómo se llama la calle?What's the street called?
- JustinLa calle se llama Laurel.The street is called Laurel.
- Stranger¿Cómo llego?How do I get there?
- JustinSigues derecho y está ahí.Go straight and it's right there.
- StrangerGracias.Thank you.
- JustinDe nada, es por ahí.You're welcome, it's that way.
- Yako points toward two chairs and whispers about a legendary café.
Practice — give the directions
You’ll listen, match meanings, choose replies, fill gaps, and build directions.
Read each situation carefully so the distance and landmark fit the answer.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Spanish
¿Hay un ___ por aquí?Drop the English hereAl lado del parqueDrop the English here¿Cómo se llama la calle?Drop the English hereQueda cercaDrop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Tell the stranger that the café is next to the park.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
It's two blocks away
Queda a ____ cuadras
Pick the reply
Stranger says:
Pick the reply
¿Dónde está el café?
Where is the café?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Sigues derecho y está ahí
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are lost and need to find Café Laurel. Ask how to get there.
True or false?
True or false?
Disculpa is a polite way to get someone's attention before asking for directions.
Build the line
Build the line
It's close
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The stranger has received your directions and you want to thank them politely.
Say it — help a stranger
Now you’re Justin on the sidewalk, helping a stranger find Café Laurel.
Tap ▶ to hear each model line, then tap the microphone on your turns. Your recording stays on your device.
- StrangerDisculpa.Excuse me.
- Justin (you)Ask whether there is a café around here.
Ask whether there is a café around here.
¿Hay un ___ por aquí?
Is there a ___ around here?
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Spanish | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Hay un ___ por aquí? | Is there a ___ around here? | |
| Queda a dos cuadras | It's two blocks away | |
| Al lado del parque | Next to the park | |
| Sigues derecho y está ahí | Go straight and it's right there | |
| ¿Cómo se llama la calle? | What's the street called? | |
| Queda cerca | It's close |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these neighborhood directions handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
Review the distance and landmark chunks together so you can answer quickly on a real sidewalk.
Open Yak Cards