Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Luego gira a la izquierda para llegar a la farmacia.

It’s the affirmative imperative of tú (informal “you”), so it means “turn.” Grammatically, gira could also be present indicative (“he/she turns”), but in directions like this it’s read as a command.

How do I say it formally (to usted)?

Use the formal imperative: Luego gire a la izquierda para llegar a la farmacia.

How do I say it to more than one person?

Spain (vosotros): Luego girad a la izquierda… (negative: No giréis…)
Spain/Latin America (ustedes): Luego giren a la izquierda… (negative: No giren…)

Why is it “a la izquierda” and not “en la izquierda” or just “izquierda”?

With movement/turning, Spanish uses a for direction: girar a la izquierda. En la izquierda means “on the left (side)” (location), not “to the left” (direction). You can’t omit the article here; the set phrase is a la izquierda.

Could I say “hacia la izquierda”?

You can, but hacia means “toward,” which is less precise for a turn. For clear navigation, a la izquierda is more standard.

Can I replace “luego” with “después” or “entonces”?

Después often works as a straight synonym in sequences: Después, gira…
Entonces tends to mark consequence or a result, but it can be used for “then” in some contexts. In step-by-step directions, luego or después is more typical.

Does “luego” ever mean “later”? Is that confusing?

Yes, luego can mean “later” in general Spanish. In directions, context makes it mean “then/next,” so it isn’t confusing there.

Do I need a comma after “Luego”?

It’s optional. Both Luego gira… and Luego, gira… are accepted. Many writers omit the comma with short adverbs.

Why is it “para llegar” and not “para a llegar”?

Spanish uses para + infinitive for purpose (“in order to”). No extra preposition: para llegar. You could also say para ir a la farmacia (“to go to the pharmacy”), but llegar emphasizes reaching it.

Why “llegar a la farmacia,” not “llegar en la farmacia”?

The verb is llegar a + place. Llegar en is used with a means of transport (e.g., llegar en tren = “arrive by train”), not with a destination.

Why “la farmacia” and not “una farmacia” or “al farmacia”?

La farmacia points to a specific/known pharmacy (often the target on a map).
Una farmacia would mean “a pharmacy” (any).
Al = a + el, but farmacia is feminine, so it must be a la farmacia, not “al farmacia.”

Is “girar” the most natural verb in Spain? What about “doblar” or “torcer”?

In Spain, girar and torcer are both common: Gira/Tuerce a la izquierda. Doblar is very common in Latin America; in Spain people understand it but use it less for directions.

When would I use “girarse” or “darse la vuelta”?

Girarse/darse la vuelta = to turn your body around (turn toward someone, face the other way).
For directions (driving/walking), use the non‑reflexive verb: girar/torcer.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

gira: in most of Spain, g before i sounds like a harsh English “h” “HEE-ra.”
izquierda: in Spain the z is a “th” sound: approx “eeth-KYER-da” (stress on KYER).
farmacia: in Spain c before i is also “th”: “far-MA-thya.”

Where does the stress fall? Do any words take written accents?

No written accents here. Stress: LUE-go, GÍ-ra, iz-QUIER-da, far-MA-cia.

Can I move or omit “luego”?

You can place it first: Luego gira…
After the verb is also possible but less common: Gira luego…
If the sequence is clear (e.g., numbered steps), you can omit it: Gira a la izquierda…

How would I say “until you reach the pharmacy”?

Gira a la izquierda hasta llegar a la farmacia.

How do I say “Take the first left”?

Toma la primera a la izquierda. (Formal: Tome…; plural Spain: Tomad…; plural LATAM/Spain formal: Tomen…)

How do I make it negative (“Don’t turn left”)?

Informal tú: No gires a la izquierda.
Formal usted: No gire a la izquierda.
Vosotros: No giréis a la izquierda.
Ustedes: No giren a la izquierda.

Could this be read as “He/She then turns left to get to the pharmacy”?

Yes, grammatically it could be present indicative if the context is narrative. But in isolation and in a directions context, it’s understood as an imperative.