How to Say "Jaywalking" in Spanish

cruzar imprudentemente

/kɾuθaɾ impɾudentemente/from spelling rules

The English phrase "jaywalking" is translated into Spanish as cruzar imprudentemente.

In many Spanish-speaking contexts, people may use the more descriptive phrase cruzar por donde no se debe to describe the act of jaywalking.

Meaning: the act of jaywalking (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

/kɾuθaɾ impɾudentemente/

The adverb imprudentemente is built from the Latin 'mens', meaning 'mind', suggesting that jaywalking is a failure of the mind to be cautious.
If you are caught cruzando imprudentemente in certain regions, an onlooker might warn you that you are jugando con fuego, or 'playing with fire', to highlight the danger of your actions.
In many Spanish-speaking countries, there is no direct equivalent to the single noun 'jaywalking'. Instead, authorities use legal descriptions like imprudencia peatonal, which shifts the focus from the act of walking to the quality of the pedestrian's judgment.

Tom tuvo que pagar una multa por cruzar imprudentemente.
Tom had to pay a fine for jaywalking.
This sentence shows how to use cruzar imprudentemente in the context of paying a fine.
Tatoeba #1685129 by teskmon, translation #1040615 by CK
Recomendamos encarecidamente no atravesar la calle indebidamente, ya que puede resultar en multas de tránsito significativas.
We strongly advise against jaywalking, as it can result in significant traffic fines.
Si sigues saltándote las normas de tránsito para cruzar la calle, te van a acabar multando.
If you keep breaking the rules when crossing the street, you will end up being fined.
Cuidate de no cruzar imprudentemente la calle.
Be careful not to jaywalk across the street.
Es peligroso cruzar imprudentemente por aquí.
It is dangerous to jaywalk around here.

Mateo and Sofía are standing at a busy street corner.

Mateo

Vamos a cruzar imprudentemente para llegar más rápido.
Let's jaywalk to get there faster.
Sofía

No, Mateo, es mejor esperar al semáforo.
No, Mateo, it's better to wait for the light.
Mateo

Pero no vienen coches ahora mismo.
But no cars are coming right now.
Sofía

Aun así, no quiero arriesgarme.
Even so, I don't want to take the risk.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries cruzar, imprudentemente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏