Transportation in Spanish
Collection of Spanish vocabulary related to transportation, including modes of transport, phrases, and expressions.
muelle
Pier
The Spanish word 'muelle' translates to 'pier' in English. This term usually refers to a platform extending from the shore into the water, designed for people to walk on or to allow boats to dock. It is commonly seen in coastal areas where sea or river transportation and recreational activities are prevalent. In various contexts, 'muelle' can also be interpreted as dock, wharf, or spring (in mechanical terms).
Example sentences with muelle →naufragar
to wreck
The Spanish word 'naufragar' translates to 'to wreck' in English. It is often used in the context of maritime incidents where a ship is destroyed or ruined during a journey. It can metaphorically also be used for plans or schemes that fail or don't go as expected. For example, it can describe when a project fails or when something is ruined.
Example sentences with naufragar →navegar
sail
The Spanish term 'navegar' translates to 'sail' in English. It refers to the action of traveling or moving in a watercraft, specifically in a boat or a ship, across a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or river. This could include activities like steering, navigating, or managing a boat or ship. 'Navegar' could also imply the act of surfing or browsing the internet.
Example sentences with navegar →normas de circulación
traffic rules
The phrase 'normas de circulación' in Spanish translates to 'traffic rules' in English. It refers to the rules that govern the movement or operation of vehicles, pedestrians, and other conveyances, either individually or in conjunction with each other, on roads and public ways. Such rules can encompass everything from giving right of way to indicating when to use lights or blinkers, to setting speed limits and so forth. Understanding and following 'normas de circulación' is essential for safety on the roads.
Example sentences with normas de circulación →pagar un seguro
pay insurance
The Spanish phrase 'pagar un seguro' directly translates to 'pay insurance' in English. This is often used in the context of making payments towards an insurance policy. Insurance can refer to various types of coverages such as car insurance, health insurance, or house insurance. Therefore, 'pagar un seguro' could be used in various conversations relating to finance and personal arrangements.
Example sentences with pagar un seguro →pagar una multa
pay a fine
The phrase 'pagar una multa' in Spanish translates directly to 'pay a fine' in English. It is commonly used in legal contexts where a person is required to pay a specific amount of money as a penalty for breaking a law or rule. The verb 'pagar' means 'to pay', 'una' is an indefinite article that means 'a', and 'multa' translates to 'fine'. Thus, the combination of these words creates the phrase 'pagar una multa'.
Example sentences with pagar una multa →palanca de cambio
change lever
The Spanish phrase 'palanca de cambio' translates to 'change lever' in English. It is often used in the context of vehicles, specifically cars, to refer to the gear shift lever. The gear shift lever is a device used by the driver to change gears manually in the transmission. The phrase 'palanca de cambio' might be used in a number of situations, including technical, conversational, or educational contexts. Learning such specific terms can provide useful context when dealing with car repairs or functions in a Spanish-speaking setting.
Example sentences with palanca de cambio →parada de autobús
bus stop
The Spanish term 'parada de autobús' translates to 'bus stop' in English. A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or alight from a bus. These are usually positioned on the city streets, alongside the sidewalk or road. In Spain or any Spanish-speaking countries, if you're looking to use public transportation, especially buses, look for a 'parada de autobús'.
Example sentences with parada de autobús →parada de metro
metro stop
The Spanish term 'parada de metro' translates directly into English as 'metro stop'. It refers to a designated place along a metro or subway line where the train will stop to allow passengers to board or disembark. These stops are often marked by a station or platform, and are critical points in urban public transportation systems. In everyday conversation, one might use this term to describe their commuting route or to give directions within a city.
Example sentences with parada de metro →parada de taxi
taxi stop
The Spanish phrase 'parada de taxi' translates to 'taxi stop' in English. It is used to designate a specific location where taxis wait for passengers or where passengers can wait to hail a taxi. Similar to a bus stop, a taxi stop is a designated area usually signposted and reserved for this purpose.
Example sentences with parada de taxi →pasajero
passenger
The Spanish word 'pasajero' translates to 'passenger' in English. It is often used to refer to a person who is traveling in a vehicle, such as a car, bus, train, plane, or ship, but is not operating it or part of the crew. The term 'pasajero' can be used in various contexts, including transportation, travel, and tourism. It is an important term to know when traveling in Spanish-speaking regions.
Example sentences with pasajero →pasar la aduana
Pass the customs
The Spanish phrase 'pasar la aduana' translates to 'pass the customs' in English. It refers to the procedure of going through the customs department at a border or an airport, which checks incoming goods, travelers, or luggage. This process usually involves declaring what goods you are bringing into the country and possibly paying import taxes or tariffs according to the laws and regulations of the country.
Example sentences with pasar la aduana →pasar un control de aduana
pass a customs control
The Spanish phrase 'pasar un control de aduana' translates to 'pass a customs control' in English. It's generally used in the context of crossing borders where goods are inspected for legality and/or applicable duties. The phrase implies the successful completion of this process, allowing one to continue travel or transport of goods.
Example sentences with pasar un control de aduana →pasar un control de carreteras
passing a roadblock
The Spanish phrase 'pasar un control de carreteras' translates to 'passing a roadblock' in English. In Spanish, 'pasar' means to pass, 'un' means a, 'control de carreteras' means roadblock. Therefore, the combination 'pasar un control de carreteras' is used to express the action of successfully getting through a checkpoint or inspection on the roads. In a broader context, it may be used metaphorically to describe overcoming an obstacle or a challenging situation.
Example sentences with pasar un control de carreteras →paso a nivel
level crossing
The Spanish phrase 'paso a nivel' translates to 'level crossing' in English. It is typically used in transportation contexts to refer to a place where a railway line intersects a road or path on the same level, as opposed to the train either passing over or underneath the road. It serves as a warning sign in many countries around the world, indicating a potential hazard where extra care should be taken. In more general contexts, it can also refer to the concept of crossing or intersecting at the same level or stage.
Example sentences with paso a nivel →paso de cebra
crosswalk
The Spanish phrase 'paso de cebra' directly translates to 'zebra crossing' in English, but it is used to mean 'crosswalk'. It is a designated point on the road where pedestrians can cross safely. The term 'zebra' is associated with the white and black stripes painted on the road, which somewhat resemble a zebra's stripes. This is commonly used in Spain and many Latin American countries.
Example sentences with paso de cebra →paso de peatones
pedestrian crossing
The Spanish term 'paso de peatones' refers to a specific area where pedestrians in traffic are allowed to safely cross the street or road. The phrase is a compound of the words 'paso' (step), 'de' (of), and 'peatones' (pedestrians), directly translating to 'step of pedestrians' but understood and referred to in English as 'pedestrian crossing'. It usually designates a marked part of the road where drivers are expected to allow pedestrians to cross, often displaying distinctive markings or traffic signals for added safety.
Example sentences with paso de peatones →patinar
skate
The Spanish word 'patinar' translates to 'skate' in English. It is a verb and it mainly describes the activity of moving on a surface, particularly ice or a smooth floor, by using skates. It can also metaphorically imply slipping or sliding in certain circumstances. This word can be used in various contexts such as sports, recreational activities, and transport. The English equivalent, skate, shares the same usages.
Example sentences with patinar →peaje
toll
The Spanish word 'peaje' translates to 'toll' in English. This term is most commonly used to refer to the charge or fee for using a bridge, road, or tunnel. It comes from the word 'pagar' which means 'to pay' in Spanish, indicating a payment for a service. In some cases, 'peaje' can also refer to the booth where these fees are collected on highways or roads.
Example sentences with peaje →peatón
pedestrian
The Spanish word 'peatón' is translated into English as 'pedestrian'. It refers to a person who is walking, especially in an area where vehicles go. The term 'peatón' is used in different Spanish-speaking contexts such as in road safety where it's greatly stressed to observe traffic rules not only for the vehicle drivers but also for the 'peatones' or pedestrians.
Example sentences with peatón →peinarse
sinking
The word 'peinarse' does not mean 'sinking' in English. It is a Spanish reflexive verb that translates to 'to comb one's hair' in English. It's used to describe an action one does to oneself, in this case, the action of combing one's hair. It involves a reciprocal relationship between the subject and the action.
perder altura
losing height
The Spanish phrase 'perder altura' translates to 'losing height' in English. It is often used in the context of aviation or physical height measurements. However, it can also be used metaphorically to describe situations where one's status or position is decreasing or being reduced.
Example sentences with perder altura →perder el autobús
miss the bus
The Spanish phrase 'perder el autobús' translates directly to English as 'lose the bus', but the correct idiomatic translation is 'miss the bus'. It is used in situations where someone failed to catch or board the public transportation bus in time, and therefore the bus has departed without them.
Example sentences with perder el autobús →perder el control
lose control
The Spanish phrase 'perder el control' translates to 'lose control' in English. It can be used in various contexts including emotions, vehicles, or situations where someone is no longer able to manage themselves or a circumstance. This phrase can be broken down into two parts: 'perder', which means 'to lose', and 'el control', which means 'the control'.
Example sentences with perder el control →perder el tren
miss the train
'Perder el tren' is a Spanish phrase that translates as 'miss the train' in English. It can be used literally to describe the scenario of not arriving in time for a scheduled train. However, it is also commonly used idiomatically in Spanish to express the idea of missing an opportunity or being too late to take advantage of a situation. Just as in English we use the phrase 'miss the boat', in Spanish they use 'perder el tren'.
Example sentences with perder el tren →permiso de circulación
Movement permit
The Spanish term 'permiso de circulación' translates to 'movement permit' in English. This is generally used to refer to a legal document or authorization that allows a vehicle to be driven on public roads. It is also referred to in some cases as a road tax disc. This term could be used in various settings: such as legal, traffic, vehicular among others. It is an important term to know when discussing matters relating to transportation, driving, or legal regulations related to vehicles in Spanish speaking countries.
Example sentences with permiso de circulación →piloto
pilot
The Spanish term 'piloto' translates into 'pilot' in English. A 'piloto' can refer to an individual who operates the controls of an aircraft. Similarly, it is also used in other contexts to denote individuals who are proficient in navigating or controlling a particular piece of machinery or vehicle. Like in English, 'piloto' can also pertain to a concept or prototype version, as in a 'piloto' for a television series.
Example sentences with piloto →piloto automático
automatic pilot
The Spanish phrase 'piloto automático' translates to 'automatic pilot' in English. This is often used in the context of aviation and maritime transport, referring to a system that controls the trajectory of a vehicle without constant 'hands-on' control by a human operator being required. It's also commonly used figuratively in general language to suggest that someone is functioning or operating in an automatic or unthinking manner, much like an autopilot system does.
Example sentences with piloto automático →pinchar(se) (una rueda)
click (a wheel)
'Pinchar(se) una rueda' is a Spanish verb phrase that might be used in a context involving vehicles or movement. It does not translate to 'click a wheel' in English. The accurate translation is 'to puncture a tire'. This phrase can be used when a vehicle's tire is punctured or flat, which causes the vehicle to stop or slow down. It's frequently used in conversations about vehicle issues or accidents.
Example sentences with pinchar(se) (una rueda) →piragua
canoe
The Spanish word 'piragua' translates to 'canoe' in English. It refers to a narrow vessel designed to be propelled by one or more people using a paddle, typically in the context of recreational activities on water such as paddling, camping, fishing, or exploring rivers and seas. In Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands, a 'piragua' may also mean a form of shaved ice dessert, but in general usage, the word aligns more with the English term 'canoe'.
Example sentences with piragua →