orientar

to orient, to guide

verb oh-ryen-TAHR Less Common

Origin: From Latin orientare, from oriens ('the rising sun, east').

Also means

to advise, to point towards

Usage Note

Orientar can be literal (orientar un mapa) or figurative (orientar a un estudiante — to advise/guide a student). The reflexive orientarse means 'to get one's bearings' or 'to find one's way'. The noun is orientación, used in both geographical and career-guidance contexts (orientación profesional).

Examples

"El guía nos orientó por las calles del casco antiguo."

Natural Translation

The guide led us through the streets of the old town.

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