Directions

1. Wêr is de trein nei Ljouwert?

   Where is the train to Leeuwarden?

   Usage

   Asks where to find the train to Leeuwarden (Frisian Ljouwert), the capital of Fryslân

   Grammar Note

   "Where" is wêr; Dutch "waar" means weather or goods in Frisian. The destination is marked with nei. Frisian signs give the name Ljouwert first

2. Hoe kom ik by it museum?

   How do I get to the museum?

   Usage

   Asks how to get to the museum; swap in any other destination

   Grammar Note

   The verb comes before the subject in the question (kom ik). "By" here means "to / up to". Museum is a neuter noun, so it takes it

3. Linksôf en dan rjochtút

   Turn left and then go straight

   Usage

   Used to give directions or to repeat the route someone has told you

   Grammar Note

   "Straight on" is rjochtút. Linksôf is links (left) plus ôf; rjochtsôf (to the right) is built the same way

4. Hokker bus giet nei it sintrum?

   Which bus goes to the centre?

   Usage

   Asks at a stop which bus goes to the town centre; in Fryslân local public transport is mostly by bus

   Grammar Note

   "Which" is hokker (not Dutch welke). Sintrum is neuter, hence it. Giet is the 3rd person present of gean (to go)

5. Hoe fier is it te rinnen?

   How far is it on foot?

   Usage

   Asks how far a place is on foot

   Grammar Note

   "To walk" is rinne. Te rinnen is te plus the infinitive and gives the sense "on foot". Composed from standard parts

6. Kinne jo it op 'e kaart oanwize?

   Could you point it out on the map?

   Usage

   Asks someone to point out a place on the map. Uses the polite jo

   Grammar Note

   Polite jo takes the plural verb form (jo kinne). Op 'e is op de contracted, written with an ASCII apostrophe

7. Ik sykje de Aldehou.

   I'm looking for the Oldehove

   Usage

   Used when looking for the Aldehou (Dutch name: Oldehove), the unfinished leaning tower in Leeuwarden; replace the name for other places

   Grammar Note

   First person present is sykje. The simple present also covers the English "I'm looking for"

8. Is dit de goede rjochting nei Snits?

   Is this the right direction to Sneek?

   Usage

   Checks whether you are heading the right way. Snits is the Frisian name of Sneek

   Grammar Note

   The question starts with the verb is. Place names follow the signs: Frisian Snits rather than Dutch Sneek

9. rjochts

   Right

   Usage

   Direction word for right, for giving or understanding directions

   Grammar Note

   Rjochts is the adverb "to the right"; note the Frisian stem rjocht- (not Dutch recht-)

10. links

    Left

    Usage

    Direction word for left, for giving or understanding directions

    Grammar Note

    Links is the adverb "to the left"; it has the same shape as in Dutch

11. rjochtút

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Tells someone to go straight on

    Grammar Note

    Rjochtút is written with an acute accent on ú. Dutch rechtdoor is not used

12. werom

    Back

    Usage

    Tells someone to go back the way they came

    Grammar Note

    Werom is the adverb "back"; Dutch terug is not used

13. Stop!

    Usage

    A sharp call to stop

    Grammar Note

    Stop is an imperative and a widely understood loanword

14. it noarden

    North

    Usage

    The compass direction north, used with maps and directions

    Grammar Note

    Noarden is a neuter noun with the article it, spelled differently from the Dutch form

15. it suden

    South

    Usage

    The compass direction south, used with maps and directions

    Grammar Note

    Suden is a neuter noun with the article it, spelled differently from the Dutch form

16. it easten

    East

    Usage

    The compass direction east, used with maps and directions

    Grammar Note

    Easten is a neuter noun with the article it, spelled differently from the Dutch form

17. it westen

    West

    Usage

    The compass direction west, used with maps and directions

    Grammar Note

    Westen is a neuter noun with the article it, spelled differently from the Dutch form

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