How to Say “It’s On the Right” in Spanish

Introduction

Navigating a Spanish-speaking country or simply giving directions to a Spanish-speaking friend requires knowing how to indicate location accurately. One of the most essential phrases you’ll need is how to say something is on the right side. Whether you’re asking for directions to the nearest café or helping someone find a street, mastering this fundamental phrase will boost your confidence and communication skills in Spanish.

The Basic Translation: Está a la Derecha

The most common way to express that something is on the right in Spanish is está a la derecha. This phrase literally translates to it is on the right and serves as your go-to expression in most situations.

Let’s break down this essential phrase:
Está – the verb to be (third person singular of estar)
a – a preposition meaning at or on
la – the feminine definite article
derecha – right (as in the direction)

When using está a la derecha, you’re employing the verb estar rather than ser, which is crucial. The verb estar is used for locations and positions, making it the natural choice when describing where something is situated. This distinction matters because using ser instead would sound unnatural to native speakers.

Alternative Ways to Say It’s on the Right

While está a la derecha remains the standard phrase, Spanish offers several variations depending on context and regional preferences.

Using Al Lado Derecho

Another common expression is está al lado derecho, which literally means it is on the right side. This phrase emphasizes the side aspect and can feel more specific in certain contexts.

For example:
La farmacia está al lado derecho de la calle – The pharmacy is on the right side of the street

This variation works particularly well when describing buildings, stores, or landmarks along a street or pathway.

The Shortened Version: A la Derecha

In casual conversation, Spanish speakers often drop the verb entirely and simply say a la derecha. This shortened form is especially common when giving quick directions or responding to questions about location.

Imagine someone asking where the bathroom is. You might simply respond:
A la derecha – On the right
or
Todo recto y luego a la derecha – Straight ahead and then on the right

Understanding Derecha vs Derecho

One aspect that confuses many Spanish learners is when to use derecha versus derecho. The key lies in understanding that derecha functions as a noun when referring to direction, while derecho can be an adjective or adverb with different meanings.

When indicating direction, always use la derecha (feminine noun). You’ll see derecho in expressions like todo derecho or sigue derecho, meaning straight ahead, where it functions as an adverb.

The feminine article la before derecha reinforces that you’re referring to the direction, not the adjective meaning right or correct.

Giving More Specific Directions

Once you’ve mastered the basic phrase, you can build upon it to give more detailed directions using related vocabulary and expressions.

Combining with Action Verbs

When telling someone to turn right, you’ll use gira a la derecha or dobla a la derecha. Both verbs, girar and doblar, mean to turn, with doblar being slightly more common in Latin America and girar heard frequently in Spain.

Examples in context:
Gira a la derecha en el semáforo – Turn right at the traffic light
Dobla a la derecha después del supermercado – Turn right after the supermarket

Adding Distance and Reference Points

To make your directions even clearer, incorporate distance markers and landmarks:

Está a la derecha, a unos 50 metros – It’s on the right, about 50 meters away
Justo a la derecha del banco – Right next to the bank on the right
Más adelante a la derecha – Further ahead on the right

The word justo means exactly or right, adding precision to your directions. Meanwhile, más adelante indicates something is further along in the direction you’re heading.

Regional Variations and Usage

Spanish is spoken across numerous countries, and while está a la derecha is universally understood, you might encounter regional preferences.

Latin American Preferences

In many Latin American countries, you’ll frequently hear a mano derecha, which literally translates to at right hand. This expression feels natural and conversational in countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.

For instance:
El restaurante queda a mano derecha – The restaurant is on the right hand side

Spanish from Spain

In Spain, while a la derecha remains standard, you might also hear por la derecha in certain contexts, particularly when describing movement or passage.

Pasa por la derecha – Go through on the right

Common Phrases and Real-World Applications

Understanding the phrase in isolation is helpful, but seeing it in realistic contexts will accelerate your learning and prepare you for actual conversations.

Asking for Directions

When you need to ask if something is on the right, you can say:
¿Está a la derecha? – Is it on the right?
¿Debo girar a la derecha? – Should I turn right?
¿La entrada está a la derecha? – Is the entrance on the right?

Describing Locations in Buildings

Inside buildings, you’ll often need to direct people to specific rooms or areas:

La oficina está a la derecha del pasillo – The office is on the right of the hallway
Los baños están a la derecha al entrar – The bathrooms are on the right when you enter
Mi habitación es la segunda puerta a la derecha – My room is the second door on the right

Traffic and Driving Contexts

When driving or riding in a vehicle, these phrases become essential:

Mantente a la derecha – Stay to the right
El estacionamiento está a la derecha – The parking lot is on the right
Cede el paso a la derecha – Yield to the right

Opposite Direction: Saying It’s on the Left

To round out your directional vocabulary, you should also know how to say something is on the left: está a la izquierda. The structure mirrors the right-side phrase exactly, simply substituting izquierda for derecha.

This parallel structure makes learning both directions straightforward. All the variations and combinations we’ve discussed apply equally to the left side.

Practice Tips for Mastery

Memorizing the phrase is just the beginning. True fluency comes from practice and application in varied contexts.

Visualization Techniques

When learning directional vocabulary, visualization helps cement the concepts. As you walk through your neighborhood or building, practice saying a la derecha and a la izquierda as you notice landmarks and turns. This mental mapping strengthens your automatic recall.

Creating Your Own Examples

Write out directions from your home to common destinations using Spanish. Start simple with just a few turns, then increase complexity. This exercise not only reinforces está a la derecha but also builds your overall directional vocabulary.

Listening Practice

Watch Spanish-language videos where people give directions or take virtual walking tours of Spanish-speaking cities. Listen for how native speakers naturally incorporate a la derecha into their speech. Notice the rhythm, intonation, and context.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even intermediate learners sometimes stumble with directional phrases. Being aware of these common errors will help you avoid them.

Using the Wrong Verb

Remember that location requires estar, not ser. Saying es a la derecha sounds incorrect to native ears. The temporary, positional nature of location calls for estar exclusively.

Forgetting the Article

Always include the article la before derecha. Simply saying está a derecha without the article is grammatically incomplete and will sound odd to native speakers.

Gender Agreement Issues

Since derecha is feminine, any adjectives modifying it must also be feminine. This becomes relevant in phrases like la primera a la derecha (the first on the right), where primera takes the feminine form.

Conclusion

Mastering how to say something is on the right in Spanish opens doors to confident navigation and communication in Spanish-speaking environments. From the essential está a la derecha to regional variations like a mano derecha, you now have multiple tools to express this crucial concept. Practice these phrases regularly, incorporate them into real conversations, and soon directing and receiving directions in Spanish will feel completely natural.