Directions

1. Cumu si và à a citatella d'Aiacciu?

   How do you get to the citadel of Ajaccio?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask the route to a place; swap in any other place name

   Grammar Note

   Si và ("one goes") is the usual way to ask a route. Và is the third person of andà and keeps its grave accent. Aiacciu is the Corsican name of Ajaccio. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Pigliate à diritta

   Turn right

   Usage

   What a person giving directions will say; follow it when you hear it

   Grammar Note

   Piglià à diritta literally means to take the right-hand way; the left is piglià à manca. Diritta is also written dritta. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Hè propiu in faccia

   It's right opposite

   Usage

   What you may hear when the place you want is directly across from you

   Grammar Note

   Propiu means exactly. In faccia means opposite; add à plus a place to say "opposite ...". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Scusatemi, mi sò persu / persa

   Excuse me, I got lost

   Usage

   An opening line for stopping a passer-by when you are lost

   Grammar Note

   A reflexive verb forms its past with esse (sò), and the participle agrees with the speaker: persu (male) or persa (female). Keep the grave on sò. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Mi pudete mustrà nantu à a carta?

   Can you point it out on the map?

   Usage

   When a spoken route is hard to follow, hold out a map or phone and ask to be shown

   Grammar Note

   Carta is a feminine noun meaning both paper and map. Nantu à means "on". Pudete is the polite 2pl form. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Hè propiu dopu à l'angulu

   It's right around the corner

   Usage

   What you may hear when the place is just beyond the next corner

   Grammar Note

   Angulu is masculine, and the article becomes l' before a vowel. Dopu à means "after". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. À diritta

   Right

   Usage

   A direction word; clearer when you point as you say it

   Grammar Note

   À is a preposition and keeps its grave accent. Diritta is feminine and means the right-hand side; it is also written dritta

8. À manca

   Left

   Usage

   A direction word; clearer when you point as you say it

   Grammar Note

   Manca is feminine and means the left-hand side. Do not confuse it with the verb mancà (to miss), which ends in a grave accent

9. Drittu

   Straight ahead

   Usage

   Means keep going without turning; clearer when you point

   Grammar Note

   Drittu means straight and works as an adjective or adverb. It is also written dirittu; the spelling drittu is used here

10. In daretu

    Back / turn around

    Usage

    Tells someone to go back, or points behind you

    Grammar Note

    Daretu means behind or back and is also written addaretu. The verb "to return" is turnà. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Firmate quì, pè piacè

    Stop here, please

    Usage

    Tell a taxi driver to pull over at the spot you want

    Grammar Note

    Firmà is also written fermà. The 2pl imperative is polite. Keep the grave on quì. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. a fermata di l'autobus

    Bus stop

    Usage

    A place name for asking directions; put it after Induve hè (where is)

    Grammar Note

    Fermata is feminine and is also written firmata. Di l' is di plus the article before a vowel

13. l'uffiziu di cambiu

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    A place name for changing foreign money; put it after Induve hè (where is)

    Grammar Note

    Uffiziu is a masculine noun also written offiziu. Cambiu means exchange. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. u nordu

    North

    Usage

    A compass word, found on maps, bus signs and in directions

    Grammar Note

    Nordu is masculine. South is u sudu, east is l'estu and west is l'uvestu

15. u sudu

    South

    Usage

    A compass word; the island's two departments are Corsica suprana (north) and Corsica suttana (south)

    Grammar Note

    Sudu is masculine and is also written sud. The form with -u is used here

16. l'estu

    East

    Usage

    A compass word used on maps and in directions

    Grammar Note

    Estu is also written este. An older word for the east is livanti (the Levant)

17. l'uvestu

    West

    Usage

    A compass word used on maps and in directions; the island's west coast has sights such as the Calanche di Piana

    Grammar Note

    Uvestu is masculine and is also written uveste. An older word for the west is punente

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