carretera cerrada
/kareteɾa θerada/from spelling rules
The English phrase "road closed" is translated into Spanish as carretera cerrada.
Which one should you use?
You should use calle cerrada if you are referring to a city street rather than a highway or major road (carretera). Additionally, vía cerrada serves as a more formal or technical alternative often used in official traffic reports or signage.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Mexico, La vía está bloqueada may be used to convey "the road is closed."
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective cerrada must agree in gender with the feminine noun carretera.
How do you pronounce it?
/kareteɾa θerada/
Did you know?
- The word carretera is derived from carreta, which means 'cart'. Literally, a 'road' in Spanish is a place where carts travel.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a road closure might be caused by a manifestación, a word that in English usually refers to a spiritual or psychological occurrence but in Spanish means a public protest.
- While cerrada means 'closed', Spanish speakers often use the verb cortar meaning 'to cut' to describe a road closure, such as la carretera está cortada.
Examples in context
- Por favor, ¿puedo obtener una ruta alternativa? La carretera está cerrada. ¡Gracias!Please, can I get an alternative route? The road is closed. Thank you!
- La carretera está cerrada por obras.The road is closed due to construction.
- Vi un cartel que decía carretera cerrada.I saw a sign that said road closed.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are driving and encounter a barrier.
- DanielMira, Elena, hay una carretera cerrada.Look, Elena, there is a road closed.
- ElenaNo veo ningún cartel de aviso.I don't see any warning sign.
- DanielEstá clara la carretera cerrada aquí.The closed road is clear here.
- ElenaVamos a dar la vuelta entonces.Let's turn around then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carretera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
