Words for your next conversation

Russian for finding your way on foot

By Nico Jaroszewski · Updated 19 Oct 2026

You can ask where a place is and still miss the answer because it contains three turns, a crossing and an unfamiliar landmark. Prepare the listening side of directions as carefully as the question.

Reading time: about 5 min.

Words and phrases: 10
Reading support: Stress marks and transliteration
Practice: Examples and short dialogues

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You can ask where a place is and still miss the answer because it contains three turns, a crossing and an unfamiliar landmark. Prepare the listening side of directions as carefully as the question. Here you will practise polite openings, short route instructions and ways to check what you heard. Choose a real destination near you while studying, then describe the route using visible buildings rather than trying to memorise an imaginary city.

Ask for a route, not only a location

Где…? asks where something is. Как пройти́ до…? asks how to walk there and often gets a more useful answer when you are already outside. Add Извини́те to attract someone's attention politely. Show a place name if it is difficult to pronounce, but keep the spoken question simple. If the destination is far away, the other person may suggest transport instead. Clarify that you want to walk with пешко́м when that distinction matters.

Listen for the action before the landmark

Иди́те пря́мо means go straight ahead. Поверни́те нале́во or напра́во adds the turn. Listen for that action first, then attach it to the landmark: after the pharmacy, at the traffic lights, opposite the park. You do not need to understand every descriptive word to follow the main route. Draw a few arrows while listening to a practice partner, then say the sequence back. This tests whether you understood the order rather than isolated vocabulary.

Use landmarks to check your understanding

Ря́дом с, напро́тив and за describe different relationships between places. A building beside the bank is not the same as one opposite it. Confirm a key point with a short question, such as По́сле моста́ напра́во? If the answer is long, ask for the first part again. It is reasonable to learn a route in stages. A nearby crossing or entrance is often a better immediate target than a distant building you cannot yet see.

Turn your own neighbourhood into practice

Pick a station, shop and public building near home. Give each a short route with one turn and one landmark. On the next round, start from a different place and check which words need to change. This makes left, right and opposite meaningful rather than abstract opposites on a list. When travelling, compare spoken directions with signs and your current surroundings. A language exercise does not establish whether a path is open or suitable for your needs.

Words and phrases to try

An accent marks the stressed vowel. Transliteration is a reading aid; ё carries its own stress.

Russian for finding your way on foot
Russian	Transliteration	Meaning	In a sentence
перекрёсток	perekryostok	intersection	На перекрёстке поверни́те. Turn at the intersection.
светофо́р	svetofór	traffic lights	Дойди́те до светофо́ра. Walk as far as the traffic lights.
перехо́д	perekhód	crossing	Перехо́д ря́дом с па́рком. The crossing is beside the park.
пря́мо	pryámo	straight ahead	Иди́те пря́мо до моста́. Go straight ahead to the bridge.
нале́во	nalévo	to the left	Поверни́те нале́во по́сле ба́нка. Turn left after the bank.
напра́во	naprávo	to the right	Поверни́те напра́во у апте́ки. Turn right by the pharmacy.
напро́тив	naprótiv	opposite	Музе́й напро́тив шко́лы. The museum is opposite the school.
пешко́м	peshkóm	on foot	Ско́лько идти́ пешко́м? How long does it take on foot?
Как пройти́?	Kak proytí?	How do I walk there?	Как пройти́ до ста́нции? How do I walk to the station?
Повтори́те поме́дленнее.	Povtoríte pomédlennee.	Repeat more slowly.	Повтори́те поме́дленнее, пожа́луйста. Please repeat more slowly.

Try the conversation

A: Извини́те, как пройти́ до музе́я?
Excuse me, how do I walk to the museum?
B: Иди́те пря́мо, а по́сле моста́ напра́во.
Go straight ahead, then right after the bridge.
A: По́сле моста́ напра́во, ве́рно?
Right after the bridge, correct?
B: Да. Музе́й бу́дет сле́ва, напро́тив па́рка.
Yes. The museum will be on the left, opposite the park.
A: Э́то далеко́ пешко́м?
Is it far on foot?
B: Нет, приме́рно де́сять мину́т.
No, about ten minutes.

Questions about this situation

How do I ask someone to repeat directions?

Повтори́те, пожа́луйста is a polite request to repeat. Add поме́дленнее to ask for a slower explanation. You can also repeat the part you understood and ask only about the next turn, which is often easier than hearing the entire route again.

What is the difference between left and on the left?

Нале́во describes movement to the left; сле́ва describes a position on the left. Compare поверни́те нале́во with апте́ка сле́ва. Learning them in those short sentences makes the distinction easier to recognise in a real answer.

Can I use the same phrase for driving directions?

Как пройти́ is specifically about getting somewhere on foot. For driving or travelling by vehicle, как прое́хать is more suitable. Name your transport if necessary so the person does not give you a pedestrian shortcut that a car cannot use.

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