Portuguese · Travel & Getting Around
"Left" in Portuguese: à esquerda
à esquerda
Left in Portuguese is à esquerda. For directions say vire à esquerda or fica à esquerda. The adjective form is esquerdo/esquerda for left-hand things.
Walking directions
Na próxima esquina, vire à esquerda.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce à esquerda
Say it
ah es-KER-dah
/ˈa esq.ˈueʁ.da/
ah es-KER-dah. The x in esquerda sounds like sh in much of Brazil.
"Left" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| à esquerda | to the left / on the left Main direction phrase. | Main direction phrase. |
| vire à esquerda | turn left GPS and walking directions. | GPS and walking directions. |
| à esquerda de | to the left of Locating something next to another. | Locating something next to another. |
| mão esquerda | left hand Body and gesture talk. | Body and gesture talk. |
| lado esquerdo | left side Seats, roads, body. | Seats, roads, body. |
How to use à esquerda in real life
- 1Walking directions
Na próxima esquina, vire à esquerda.
At the next corner, turn left.
Vire à esquerda is the classic instruction.
- 2Finding a shop
A farmácia fica à esquerda do mercado.
The pharmacy is to the left of the market.
À esquerda de pins a location.
- 3In a taxi
Pode ficar à esquerda aqui, por favor.
You can stay on the left here, please.
Useful when guiding a driver.
Mistakes English speakers make with à esquerda
Incorrect: Vire a esquerda.
Correct: Vire à esquerda.
The grave accent matters: à esquerda merges a + a.
Incorrect: Vire à sinistra.
Correct: Vire à esquerda.
Sinistra is Italian. Portuguese is esquerda.
Good to know
Brazilian drivers and pedestrians use à esquerda constantly with GPS apps. You will also hear na mão esquerda in São Paulo traffic talk. For learners, à esquerda covers almost every left-turn situation.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding a café on foot
ChatPal
A gente vira à esquerda depois do banco?
Do we turn left after the bank?
You
Isso. Vira à esquerda e sobe a rua.
Yes. Turn left and go up the street.
ChatPal
O café fica à esquerda ou à direita?
Is the café on the left or the right?
You
Fica bem à esquerda, perto da praça.
It's right on the left, near the square.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Left" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Left" in Portuguese
How do I say turn left?
Vire à esquerda or Vira à esquerda in casual speech.
Why the accent on à?
À is a + a. It marks to the / at the.
Left hand?
Mão esquerda.
Opposite of à esquerda?
À direita.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
