carreteras
/kareteɾas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "roads" is translated into Spanish as carreteras.
Carreteras refers to roads, often specifically meaning large roads, highways or expressways. Other related terms include la carretera principal for a main road, el cruce for an intersection and la rotonda for a roundabout. If you are navigating, you might use phrases like tomar la salida to take the exit, seguir derecho to go straight or doblar a la izquierda/derecha to turn left/right.
Which one should you use?
While carreteras is used for major roads or highways, calles is the more common word used for streets within a city or town.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Mexico and Argentina, autopistas is the term used for highways or expressways. In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the word rutas is used to refer to routes or roads.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is carretera. Because the noun is feminine and plural, the definite article must be las to match in gender and number, as seen in las carreteras.
How do you pronounce it?
/kareteɾas/
Did you know?
- The word carretera is derived from carreta, meaning 'cart'. Historically, these were paths designed specifically for horse-drawn carts to transport goods.
- While 'carretera' implies a paved thoroughfare, the word camino is often used to describe a road that is unpaved, rustic, or a simple path through nature.
- Spanish uses the word vía to describe the 'way' or 'road', which is the same root used in English for 'viaduct', a bridge-like road used to cross a valley.
Examples in context
- Argelia tiene muy buenas carreteras.Algeria has very good roads.This sentence illustrates a description of the quality of roads in Algeria.Tatoeba #9996529 by manufrutos, translation #9995426 by Amastan
- Las carreteras ya están cubiertas de nieve.The roads are already covered with snow.This sentence describes the condition of the roads being covered in snow.Tatoeba #12921556 by ecorralest101, translation #10066567 by CK
- El Gobierno debería de reparar las carreteras.The government should repair the roads.This sentence is about the government's responsibility to repair the roads.Tatoeba #9991195 by manufrutos, translation #8778416 by Amastan
- Para llegar a la ciudad, debemos tomar la carretera principal.To get to the city, we have to take the main road.
- Vamos a caminar por los caminos del bosque.Let's walk along the forest paths.
- Hay mucho tráfico en las calles del centro.There is heavy traffic on the downtown streets.
- La casa de mis abuelos está al final de una carreterita pintoresca.My grandparents' house is at the end of a picturesque little road.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are planning a road trip across the country.
- ElenaLas carreteras son muy largas.The roads are very long.
- MateoSí, pero el paisaje es hermoso.Yes, but the scenery is beautiful.
- Elena¿Conoces buenas carreteras para ir al sur?Do you know good roads to go south?
- MateoConozco un par de rutas excelentes.I know a couple of excellent routes.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
