bicicleta de carretera
/biθikleta de kareteɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'road bike' is translated into Spanish as bicicleta de carretera.
Meaning: type of bicycle (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bicicleta de carretera is composed of bicicleta (bicycle), de (of) and carretera (road or highway).
Which one should you use?
bici de carretera is an informal abbreviation, and bici de ruta is a colloquial term used frequently in Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the specific term bici de carretera de competición is used to mean 'competition road bike'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'road bikes', only the noun changes: bicicletas de carretera. The prepositional phrase de carretera remains in its singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
/biθikleta de kareteɾa/
Did you know?
- The term carretera shares a deep linguistic root with the English word 'car'. Both descend from the Latin carrus, which referred to a two-wheeled Celtic chariot.
- While bicicleta de carretera is the standard term, cyclists in Spain often use the slang term máquina ('machine') to refer to a high-end road bike.
- Spanish speakers often use the verb rodar ('to roll') instead of montar ('to ride') when talking specifically about the activity of road cycling.
Examples in context
- Quiero comprarme una bicicleta de carretera nueva.I want to buy a new road bike.
- Me encanta salir a pedalear en mi bici de ruta los fines de semana.I love going for a ride on my road bike on weekends.
- ¿Vamos a dar una vuelta en bici de carretera mañana?Shall we go for a road bike ride tomorrow?
- Me gusta mucho mi bicicleta de carretera.I really like my road bike.
- ¿Es nueva tu bicicleta de carretera?Is your road bike new?
- Necesito una bicicleta de carretera para el viaje.I need a road bike for the trip.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are at a bicycle shop.
- DanielBusco una bicicleta de carretera para mí.I am looking for a road bike for myself.
- LucíaTengo una bicicleta de carretera muy ligera para ti, Daniel.I have a very light road bike for you, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Es esta la mejor bicicleta de carretera?Is this the best road bike?
- LucíaSí, es una excelente opción.Yes, it is an excellent option.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bicicleta, carretera, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
