Buildings, places and locations in Spanish: A nifty guide

Got somewhere to go? Not before you learn some vocabulary about locations and places in Spanish!

Learning how to talk about locations in Spanish is one of the most important milestones in your Spanish-learning journey. Learning this vocabulary and how to use it in a sentence will be super helpful, whether you’re planning to stay home or are thinking about traveling to a Spanish-speaking country soon. Once you’ve learned how to talk about places and locations, you’ll be able to:

• Learn some phrases for your trip to Mexico, Spain, or other Spanish-speaking countries
• Ask for, understand, and give directions in Spanish
• Read signs, maps, and transportation schedules
• Improve conversational skills for everyday situations

Plus, knowing how to get to your hotel, school, the park, or the supermarket will give you all the confidence to navigate unfamiliar situations like a pro. Even if you get lost, you’ll be able to ask for directions and find your destination with ease.

So, whether you’re looking to learn how to find your way around your new school in Spain or Latin America, or you’re ready to tackle all the vocabulary for buildings and locations, let’s jump right into a list of 200 locations, places, and buildings in Spanish.

Table of contents

• Vocabulary for buildings in Spanish
• Vocabulary for places in Spanish
• Vocabulary for shops in Spanish
• Basic vocabulary for locations in Spanish
• Conclusion

Vocabulary for buildings in Spanish

Learning vocabulary words about buildings in Spanish is one of the most productive uses of your time as a Spanish learner. Whether you’re just a beginner or more of an intermediate speaker, knowing how to talk about buildings in Spanish will take you places (literally!). Let’s take a look at 50 names of buildings in Spanish:

Edificios (buildings): common types of buildings

Essential Spanish phrases for discussing buildings

Now that you have the vocabulary, here are a few phrases using buildings in Spanish to show you how it’s done:

Vocabulary for places in Spanish

Places, people, places! It’s time to learn some fun vocabulary that will take you beyond your wildest dreams. From beaches to islands to forests, you’ll find no shortage of things to do and places to see in Spain and Latin America. Here are 50 places in Spanish:

Lugares (places): common places to know

Key phrases for discussing places in Spanish

Time to take a look at some helpful phrases you can use to find your way to your favorite place, or an exciting new one!

Vocabulary for shops in Spanish

If you visited a Spanish-speaking country but didn’t do any shopping, did you even visit? From knick-knacks to souvenirs and groceries, you’ll find it plenty useful knowing how to talk about shops in Spanish, whether you’re visiting or living there temporarily (or permanently!).

One cool thing about Spanish is that the suffix -ería can transform almost any noun into a shop. For example, flor (Spanish for flower) can be transformed into “flower shop” by adding the suffix -ería: florería. The same is true for many nouns, although some might require slight modifications like dropping the last vowel:

• Fruta → Frutería (Fruit shop)
• Libro → Librería (Book store)
• Pastel → Pastelería (Cake shop)

Note that this doesn’t work for all nouns, but it’s a fun trick you can consider. Let’s take a look at 50 types of shops in Spanish:

Tiendas (shops): common types of shops you might need to visit

Key phrases for shopping

You didn’t think we were gonna give you so much shopping ammo without showing you how to use it, right? Here are five phrases that will help you find any shop you’re looking for.

Basic vocabulary for locations in Spanish

Finally, you’ll need some Spanish prepositions to locate yourself and others in relation to the places you want to describe. For example, if you ask where the grocery store is, someone might tell you it’s next to the school. Or you might hear that the park is near the beach. These are the words that help you find your way around a city or town, as you’ll be able to figure out how everything relates to each other. Let’s take a look:

Ubicaciones (locations): common terms for describing locations

Key phrases for giving and receiving directions in Spanish

These prepositional phrases will help you find your way around town with ease. Just replace the store, location, or building in the examples below with what you’re looking for:

Get to where you’re going with Berlitz

There you have it! 200 places, buildings, locations, prepositions, and other essential Spanish vocabulary for finding your way. The most important part is making sure you’re comfortable navigating the essentials, like finding your way back home or getting to school. But once you’ve mastered a few more of the vocabulary words on this list, you’ll be free to travel anywhere you want (as long as there are Spanish speakers around!).

If you’re still itching for your next Spanish-speaking adventure, take a tour through our Spanish blog! We publish tons of great Spanish content for avid backpackers and studious minds alike. You’ll find plenty of vocabulary topics, like our list of 252 drinks in Spanish or 170+ clothes in Spanish. But you’ll also find some wonderful cultural guides, like this list of 150 interesting facts about Mexico and our expert guide to Spanish culture.