patrulla fronteriza
/patɾuʝa fɾonteɾiθa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'border patrol' is translated into Spanish as patrulla fronteriza.
This phrase refers to a government agency or police force responsible for monitoring and guarding a country's borders. When referring to the specific agency as a singular entity, it is common to use the feminine definite article la to say la patrulla fronteriza.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase patrulla fronteriza is composed of patrulla (patrol) and fronteriza (border-related or pertaining to the border).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Costa Rica, the term guardia de fronteras is used for border patrol. In Panama, the official term is Servicio Nacional de Fronteras. In Mexican Spanish, the informal term La Migra is used to refer to the border patrol.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun patrulla and the adjective fronteriza must take the plural suffix '-s', resulting in patrullas fronterizas.
How do you pronounce it?
/patɾuʝa fɾonteɾiθa/
Did you know?
- The word patrulla traces its roots back to the French verb patrouiller, which originally meant to prowl or walk around in search of something.
- In Mexico, the term la migra is used to describe border patrol, but it is a shortened form of migración meaning 'migration'.
- The term la migra is used colloquially in Mexico and the US to refer to border agents, often carrying a heavy social and emotional weight that the formal patrulla fronteriza does not.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde puedo encontrar información sobre la patrulla fronteriza?Where can I find information about the border patrol?
- La patrulla fronteriza vigila la zona.The border patrol monitors the area.
- Llamaron a la patrulla fronteriza por el incidente.They called the border patrol because of the incident.
- Vimos un vehículo de la patrulla fronteriza.We saw a border patrol vehicle.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing a news report while at home.
- Mateo¿Viste la noticia sobre la patrulla fronteriza?Did you see the news about the border patrol?
- LucíaNo, Mateo, ¿qué pasó?No, Mateo, what happened?
- MateoHubo un operativo de la patrulla fronteriza cerca de aquí.There was a border patrol operation near here.
- LucíaEso parece bastante serio.That sounds quite serious.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patrulla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
