callejón sin salida
/kaʝexon sin salida/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for cul de sac is callejón sin salida.
callejón sin salida can be used literally to describe a street with no through-way, or metaphorically to describe a situation or problem with no solution.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of callejón (alley), sin (without) and salida (exit/way out).
How does it change in a sentence?
When forming the plural callejones sin salida (cul-de-sacs), the noun callejón becomes callejones, but the prepositional phrase sin salida remains unchanged.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʝexon sin salida/
Did you know?
- The word salida comes from the verb salir, which shares the same root as the English word 'exit' via the Latin salire, meaning 'to jump' or 'to leap'.
- The word callejón is actually a diminutive form that grew into a larger one, starting from the Latin 'callicula', meaning a small street.
- While callejón sin salida describes the physical dead end, Spanish speakers use the verb estancarse to describe the feeling of being in a metaphorical callejón sin salida in life or work.
Examples in context
- Mi vida es un callejón sin salida.My life is a cul-de-sac.This sentence is useful for showing the metaphorical use of callejón sin salida.Tatoeba #9050847 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9050848 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Ziri giró hacia el callejón sin salida.Ziri turned onto that cul-de-sac.This sentence is useful for showing the literal use of callejón sin salida.Tatoeba #12853941 by mexicanhere, translation #10603609 by Amastan
- La casa está ubicada en una calle sin salidaThe house is located on a cul de sac
- La casa está al final del callejón sin salidaThe house is at the end of the cul de sac
- Gira a la derecha en la calle sin salidaTurn right on the cul de sac
- La casa se encuentra en un callejón sin salida muy tranquiloThe house is located in a very peaceful cul de sac
- Vive en un callejón sin salida muy tranquilo.He lives in a very quiet cul de sac.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are looking for a specific house in a residential neighborhood.
- Sofía¿Sabes dónde está la casa de Juan?Do you know where Juan's house is?
- AlejandroCreo que está en ese callejón sin salida.I think it is in that cul de sac.
- SofíaTienes razón, es un callejón sin salida pequeño.You are right, it is a small cul de sac.
- AlejandroVamos a aparcar el coche allí.Let's park the car there.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry callejón sin salida, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries callejón, sin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
