callejones sin salida
/kaʝexones sin salida/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'dead ends' is translated into Spanish as callejones sin salida.
This phrase is used to describe streets or paths that lead to a place where no further progress is possible.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'alleys without exit'.
Which one should you use?
While callejones sin salida specifically implies narrow alleys, you can also use calle sin salida to refer to a dead-end street in general.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is callejón sin salida. To make the phrase plural, only the noun changes from callejón to callejones. The prepositional phrase sin salida remains unchanged.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʝexones sin salida/
Did you know?
- While 'dead end' uses the word 'dead' to imply a stop, Spanish uses salida, meaning 'exit'. This shifts the focus from the state of the road to the possibility of leaving.
- The word sin in the phrase is a direct relative of the English word 'sans', as seen in the French 'sans'.
- Metaphorically, a person can be described as being in a callejón sin salida when they are in a difficult situation with no solution. This is the equivalent of the English idiom 'a dead end' or 'a cornered situation'.
Examples in context
- La investigación llegó a un callejón sin salida.The investigation reached a dead end.
- Estamos atrapados en un callejón sin salida con esta situación.We are stuck in a dead-end situation with this issue.
- No encuentro trabajo, todo es un camino sin salida.I can't find a job, it's all a dead end.
- Hay muchos callejones sin salida en este barrio.There are many dead ends in this neighborhood.
- Evita los callejones sin salida para no perder tiempo.Avoid dead ends so you don't waste time.
- El mapa muestra varios callejones sin salida aquí.The map shows several dead ends here.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are driving through an old part of the city.
- MateoEste mapa es confuso, hay demasiados callejones sin salida.This map is confusing, there are too many dead ends.
- SofíaTienes razón, Mateo, no podemos avanzar por aquí.You're right, Mateo, we can't move forward through here.
- MateoGira a la derecha para salir de este callejón sin salida.Turn right to get out of this dead end.
- SofíaPerfecto, ahora estamos en la calle principal.Perfect, now we are on the main street.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
