Significado
Giving directions.
Contexto cultural
In Russia, it is common to give directions using landmarks like 'the red building' or 'the supermarket' rather than street names, which can be hard to see. In the Moscow Metro, signs are very clear. 'Налево' is often used on floor stickers to guide the massive crowds during rush hour. Ancient Russian tales often feature a 'stone at the crossroads' where turning left, right, or going straight leads to different fates (e.g., losing your horse vs. losing your life). When using a ride-sharing app like Yandex Go, it's polite to use 'Вы' (formal) with the driver, even if they are younger than you.
The 'L' Rule
Remember that 'L' in 'Left' matches the 'L' in 'Lev-o'. It's a universal anchor for Slavic languages.
Don't forget the 'те'
If you forget the '-те' at the end of 'поверните', you are using the informal form. It's okay with friends, but might sound rude to a taxi driver.
Significado
Giving directions.
The 'L' Rule
Remember that 'L' in 'Left' matches the 'L' in 'Lev-o'. It's a universal anchor for Slavic languages.
Don't forget the 'те'
If you forget the '-те' at the end of 'поверните', you are using the informal form. It's okay with friends, but might sound rude to a taxi driver.
Hand Gestures
Russians often use sharp hand gestures when saying this. Pointing with the whole hand is more common than just a finger when giving directions.
Politeness
Always add 'пожалуйста' (please) at the end to sound like a native speaker who respects the local culture.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word to tell a taxi driver to turn left.
На следующем перекрёстке _________ налево.
We use the formal 'поверните' with a driver.
Which word correctly indicates the direction 'to the left'?
Идите прямо, а потом поверните...
'Налево' indicates motion (Where to?), while 'слева' indicates location.
Complete the dialogue between a tourist and a local.
Tourist: Где аптека? Local: Идите прямо и _________ налево.
'Поверните' is the standard verb for changing direction.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Phrase: 'Поверни налево, мам!'
The informal 'поверни' is used with family.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosНа следующем перекрёстке _________ налево.
We use the formal 'поверните' with a driver.
Идите прямо, а потом поверните...
'Налево' indicates motion (Where to?), while 'слева' indicates location.
Tourist: Где аптека? Local: Идите прямо и _________ налево.
'Поверните' is the standard verb for changing direction.
Phrase: 'Поверни налево, мам!'
The informal 'поверни' is used with family.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasYes, in a taxi, if the driver asks 'Куда?', you can simply say 'Налево'. It's short and clear.
'Налево' is used for turning on streets or paths. 'Влево' is used for shifting position or looking in a direction.
Yes, it is the formal/plural form. Use it with anyone you don't know well.
Just swap 'налево' for 'направо' (na-PRA-va).
No, for pages we use 'переверните страницу'.
In Russian, many directional adverbs formed from 'preposition + adjective' became single words over time.
Say 'Поверни налево' (remove the '-те').
Not really for the command, but 'уйти налево' is slang for cheating on a partner.
Поверните налево на светофоре.
No, 'налево' already contains the preposition 'на-'.
'Поверните' is to turn a vehicle or your path. 'Повернитесь' is to rotate your own body.
The opposite is 'направо' (to the right).
Frases relacionadas
Поверните направо
contrastTurn right
Идите прямо
similarGo straight
Сверните налево
synonymTurn off to the left
Держитесь левее
specialized formKeep to the left
Развернитесь
builds onMake a U-turn
Второй поворот налево
specialized formSecond turn on the left
