vada dritto
To say 'go straight on' in Italian, you use vada dritto.
This phrase is used to give directions to someone, instructing them to continue moving forward without turning. It is used to differentiate a straight path from turning instructions such as giri a destra (turn right) or giri a sinistra (turn left).
What does it mean word for word?
The word dritto literally means 'straight' or 'direct'.
Which one should you use?
Vada dritto, Prosegua dritto and Continui dritto all instruct someone to go straight on in a formal manner. Vai dritto and Continua dritto are the informal versions of this direction.
How does it change in a sentence?
When giving directions to a group of people rather than a single person, use the plural imperative form andate dritto.
Did you know?
- The word dritto is a shortened form of diritto, which is also the Italian word for 'law'.
- In Italian, the adjective dritto can also describe a person who is physically upright or morally honest.
- In Italian, the concept of 'rights' as in human rights is expressed using the same word as 'straight' and 'law', diritti.
Examples in context
- Scusi, potrebbe dirmi come arrivo a Piazza del Duomo? Dopo il semaforo, vada dritto per duecento metri.Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Piazza del Duomo? After the traffic light, go straight on for two hundred meters.
- Ciao! Come faccio ad arrivare al ristorante? Dopo il semaforo, vai dritto per circa cinquecento metri.Hello! How do I get to the restaurant? After the traffic light, go straight on for about five hundred meters.
- Vada dritto fino al semaforo.Go straight on until the traffic light.
- Dopo la piazza, vada dritto.After the square, go straight on.
- Vada dritto per duecento metri.Go straight on for two hundred meters.
Example conversation
A tourist asks a local man for directions to the museum.
- ChiaraScusi, come arrivo al museo?Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?
- AlessandroVada dritto per questa strada.Go straight on along this street.
- ChiaraÈ molto lontano da qui?Is it very far from here?
- AlessandroNo, è molto vicino.No, it is very close.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dritto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
