How to Say "Straight Ahead" in Spanish

de fresa

/de fɾesa/from spelling rulesLatin America

The English phrase 'straight ahead' can be translated into Spanish as de fresa, de frente, recto or derecho.

Meaning: directly ahead, without deviation (adv)

Ways to say it

“straight ahead” in Spanish
Spanish	IPA	Note
de fresa	/de fɾesa/ (from spelling rules)	Latin America
de frente	/de fɾente/ (from spelling rules)
recto	/ˈreɡto/
derecho	/deˈɾet͡ʃo/

All these forms are used to indicate moving in a direct line without deviation.

The form recto is originally an adjective meaning 'straight', but it is frequently used adverbially when giving directions to mean 'straight ahead'.

The form de fresa is used in Latin America. In Colombia and Venezuela, it is also common to use the phrase todo derecho to mean 'straight ahead'.

While recto is an adjective, it is used as an adverb in the context of directions.

/de fɾesa/

Do not confuse derecho, which means 'straight', with derecha, which refers to the direction 'right'.

The word derecho can mean 'straight' when giving directions, but it also translates to 'law' or 'right' in a legal context.
One possible origin for the directional use of fresa comes from the word for a 'milling cutter' or the act of grinding.

Siga derecho por esta calle.
Go straight ahead on this street.
This sentence shows how to use derecho to give directions on a street.
Tatoeba #2010875 by marcelostockle, translation #57612 by papabear
Ve derecho hacia adelante hasta que llegues a la iglesia.
Go straight ahead until you reach the church.
This sentence demonstrates using derecho to describe a path toward a specific destination.
Tatoeba #2010859 by marcelostockle, translation #19095 by CK
Ve todo recto.
Go straight ahead.
This sentence illustrates the adverbial use of recto for directions.
Tatoeba #867011 by ildefonk, translation #269559 by CK
Para llegar a la plaza, sigue en línea recta por dos cuadras y la verás a tu derecha.
To get to the plaza, go straight ahead for two blocks and you will see it on your right.
Para llegar a la estación de tren, camina todo recto hasta el final de esta calle y la verás a la izquierda.
To get to the train station, walk straight ahead until the end of this street and you will see it on your left.
Sigue directo por esta avenida hasta llegar a la plaza principal.
Go straight ahead along this avenue until you reach the main plaza.
Ve hacia la salida del edificio y sigue derecho hasta llegar al parque.
Go towards the building exit and go straight ahead until you reach the park.
Cuando salgas del metro, solo tienes que seguir recto y llegarás al restaurante.
When you leave the metro, you just have to go straight ahead and you will arrive at the restaurant.
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Sources

Wiktionary, “straight ahead” translations and entries de frente, recto, derecho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, derecho, frente, fresa, recto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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