"Straight"

Question

Hey there,

I'm just trying to get the word "straight" straightened out. Please fix any errors you see, or give suggestions on how to say it a better way.

1) ...turn right, and then go straight ahead. = ...dobla a la derecha, y sigue recto.

2) Sit up straight please. = Por favor, siéntate derecha (is this alwasy "derecha" or is it "derecho" when talking to a male?)

3) Draw a straight line. = Dibuja una línea recta.

4) Would you ever use "derecho" to mean "straight ahead", like as in a direction?

Thanks!

Lezipo

Answer 1

2) Sit up straight please. = Por favor, siéntate derecha (is this alwasy "derecha" or is it "derecho" when talking to a male?)

If you look in our dictionary you will see that siéntate derecho is listed under "adverb" (it is modifying a verb). Adverbs do not show concordance like adjectives do.

Answer 2

4) Would you ever use "derecho" to mean "straight ahead", like as in a direction?

Yes I think so. For example, "Go straight ahead" means "Vaya todo derecho" or "Vaya todo recto".

Answer 3

Your statement: 1) ...turn right, and then go straight ahead. = ...dobla a la derecha, y sigue recto.

Well, according to my Spanish Oxford Dictionary you can use doblar = to mean to turn right/left although I have never heard that verb used maybe it is regional: varies acoording to where you are living/staying.

I have always been taught to use: girar = to turn

coger = to take a road to the right/left (Esp) or tomar (Latin America)

por ejemplo: Coge la primera calle a la derecha

= take the first turning (lit street ) on the right

Turn right, and then go straight ahead

= coge (o toma) a la derecha y ve todo recto / o todo derecho

Siga = continue so.. **siga todo derecho = continue straight ahead similiar meaning to go straight ahead but not exactly the same**

coge y ve - 00494d19, Jul 22, 2010

That's funny. I learned Spanish in Central America and they always used "doblar" for directions and girar for turning or spinning, like a wheel for example. - Lezipo, Jul 22, 2010

In México: "da vuelta a la derecha/izquierda" - Mokay, Jul 22, 2010