How do you say 'to the left of' in Spanish?

The primary way to say "to the left of" in Spanish is a la izquierda de.

If you simply want to say "to the left" without referencing a specific object, drop the de and use a la izquierda.

Deconstructing the Phrase

Understanding the components of this phrase makes it easy to remember and use correctly:

• a = to / at
• la = the (feminine singular definite article)
• izquierda = left (noun)
• de = of / from

When combined, a la izquierda de translates literally to "at the left of."

Watch Out for the "Del" Contraction

In Spanish, whenever the preposition de is followed immediately by the masculine article el ("the"), they merge into a single contracted word: del (de + el = del).

• Incorrect: a la izquierda de el museo
• Correct: a la izquierda del museo (to the left of the museum)

If the object is feminine (using la), no contraction happens:

• Correct: a la izquierda de la tienda (to the left of the store)

Quick Reference Table

Here is how a la izquierda de compares to other common Spanish spatial directions:

English Phrase	Spanish Phrase	Example Sentence
To the left of	a la izquierda de	La manzana está a la izquierda de la naranja.
To the left	a la izquierda	En la esquina, gira a la izquierda.
To the right of	a la derecha de	El perro está a la derecha de la puerta.
Next to / Beside	al lado de	La biblioteca está al lado del parque.

Real-World Examples

Here are several practical examples demonstrating how to use a la izquierda de in everyday conversation:

• El restaurante está a la izquierda del hotel.
  (The restaurant is to the left of the hotel.)

• Mi hermano se sentó a la izquierda de mi madre.
  (My brother sat to the left of my mother.)

• Encontrarás las llaves a la izquierda de la televisión.
  (You will find the keys to the left of the television.)

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Forgetting "de" before an object:
   If you specify what something is to the left of, you must include de. Saying El banco está a la izquierda la plaza is incorrect. It must be a la izquierda de la plaza.

2. Confusing "izquierda" (noun) with "izquierdo/a" (adjective):
   Use izquierda for directions (a la izquierda). Use izquierdo or izquierda as an adjective describing a left-side body part or item (e.g., el ojo izquierdo = the left eye, la mano izquierda = the left hand).

3. Mispronunciation:
   The qui combination in izquierda is pronounced like "kee", and the z sounds like an "s" in Latin America or "th" in Spain. It is pronounced roughly as ees-KYEER-dah or eeth-KYEER-dah.