Go straight to the traffic light, then turn right.
SEM-a-fo-ro — stress on first syllable. GI-ri — stress on first syllable.
Understanding this phrase when someone gives you directions in Italian.
'Vada dritto' (go straight) uses the formal imperative of 'andare'. 'Fino a' (until/up to) + landmark. 'Giri a destra' (turn right) — 'giri' is formal imperative of 'girare'. Key direction verbs: andare (go), girare (turn), continuare (continue), attraversare (cross).
Giri a sinistra al prossimo incrocio.
Turn left at the next junction.
'Incrocio' is intersection/junction
Continui dritto per un chilometro.
Continue straight for one kilometre.
'Continui' is formal imperative of 'continuare'
Attraversi la piazza e poi prenda la seconda a destra.
Cross the square and then take the second on the right.
Complex directions with multiple steps
Italian direction-giving tends to use landmarks (il semaforo, la piazza, la chiesa) rather than compass points. Italians rarely say 'north' or 'south' when giving directions in cities — they say 'verso il centro' (towards the centre) or 'verso la stazione' (towards the station). This landmark-based system works well in Italy's historic town centres.