How to Say “Bypass” in Spanish

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desvío
/desˈbio/
The Spanish word for the road noun bypass is desvío.
The noun desvío is used to refer to a bypass road. When used figuratively to describe skipping a step or connecting two points directly, such as bypassing a procedure or a circuit, the verb puentear is often more natural than using anglicisms.
Meaning: road (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The noun desvío is derived from the verb desviar, which means to divert or to deviate.

Which one should you use?

While desvío can refer to a temporary detour, it is the standard term for a permanent bypass road within the contexts of road planning or civil engineering.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For formal or technical contexts regarding bypasses, the term circunvalar is appropriate. The anglicism baipasear is considered informal and is used primarily in colloquial or specific technical fields like computing or medicine rather than for formal road descriptions.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Spain, the verb sortear can be used informally to express the idea of bypassing something.

Related words

To avoid an obstacle etc, by constructing or using a bypass (verb): baipasear, bypasear.

To ignore the usual channels or procedures (verb): puentear, baipasear, bypasear.

How does it change in a sentence?

The plural form of desvío is desvíos, and the accent mark on the í is maintained in the plural.

How do you pronounce it?

/desˈbio/

Did you know?

  • The technical term circunvalar shares a root with the English word 'circumvallation', referring to the ancient Roman military practice of building a wall around a besieged city.
  • In Spain, the word sortear can mean to bypass an obstacle, but it is also the standard word for 'to draw lots' or 'to hold a raffle'.
  • In a medical context, a heart bypass is rarely called a desvío and is instead referred to as a bypass or puente coronario, mirroring the electrical 'bridge' concept.

Examples in context

  • El desvío es muy largo.
    The bypass is very long.
  • Tomamos el desvío para evitar el tráfico.
    We took the bypass to avoid the traffic.
  • Hay un nuevo desvío cerca de la ciudad.
    There is a new bypass near the city.

Example conversation

Alejandro and María are driving in a car.

  1. Alejandro

    ¿Conoces un desvío por aquí?
    Do you know a bypass around here?
  2. María

    Sí, hay un desvío después de la gasolinera.
    Yes, there is a bypass after the gas station.
  3. Alejandro

    Perfecto, vamos a usar ese desvío.
    Perfect, let's use that bypass.
  4. María

    Es mejor para no perder tiempo.
    It is better so we don't waste time.

Sources

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Francis Edwin
Francis EdwinHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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