Directions Направле́ния и ориента́ция

20 Russian words on the topic of directions — each with a picture, an audio recording and an example sentence. Finding your way: left, right, straight ahead — and how to ask when you are lost.

English	Russian · Ру́сский	Notes
where is…?	где нахо́дится…?	Literally 'finds itself' = is located. где = where (location), куда́ = where to (direction).
to the right	напра́во	напра́во = to the right (direction); спра́ва = on the right (location).
to the left	нале́во	нале́во = to the left (direction); сле́ва = on the left (location).
straight ahead	пря́мо	🔀 Several meaningsAlso 'really/just' in speech: пря́мо сейча́с = right now.
keep straight	иди́ пря́мо	иди́ is for going on foot; to a driver say поезжа́й пря́мо.
turn	поверни́	🌎 RegionInformal singular; polite form: поверни́те.
up	вверх	вверх = upward (direction); наверху́ = up above (location).
down	вниз	вниз = downward (direction); внизу́ = down below (location).
near	бли́зко	Comparative: бли́же (closer).
far	далеко́	⚠️ Irregularдалеко́ от + genitive (far from): далеко́ от до́ма. Comparative: да́льше.
here	здесь	здесь = here (location); сюда́ = to here (direction).
there	там	там = there (location); туда́ = to there (direction).
corner	у́гол	The о drops: на углу́ (on the corner). With a soft sign, у́голь = coal.
block	кварта́л	Stress always final: кварта́л. 🔀 Several meaningsAlso 'quarter' (of a year or a city).
traffic light	светофо́р	🔗 Word familyFrom свет (light) + Greek -фор ('bearer'), as in 'semaphore'.
intersection	перекрёсток	🔗 Word familyFrom крест (cross) — a 'crossing'. The о drops when declined: перекрёстка.
in front of	напро́тив	Means 'across from / opposite'. ⚠️ IrregularTakes the genitive: напро́тив до́ма.
next to	ря́дом с	⚠️ Irregularс + instrumental: ря́дом с до́мом. ря́дом alone = 'nearby'.
between	ме́жду	⚠️ IrregularTakes the instrumental: ме́жду на́ми = between us.
behind	позади́	⚠️ IrregularTakes the genitive: позади́ до́ма. 🌎 RegionEveryday speech prefers за + instrumental (за до́мом).