itinerancia
/itineɾanθja/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "roaming" (referring to cell phone use outside of its original registering zone) is translated into Spanish as itinerancia.
itinerancia is the formal technical term used by telecommunications companies to describe roaming services. You may also encounter the phrase cobro de itinerancia when referring specifically to roaming charges.
Meaning: using a cell phone outside of its original registering zone (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/itineɾanθja/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, itinerancia is also used outside of technology to describe officials or judges who move between different towns to perform their duties.
- In many Latin American countries, instead of using the technical itinerancia, people often use the English word 'roaming' directly, especially when discussing mobile data plans.
- The word itinerancia comes from the same root as the English word 'itinerary', both descending from the Latin 'itinerarium', meaning a 'journey' or 'route'.
Examples in context
- La compañía ofrece el servicio de roaming internacional a sus clientes.The company provides international roaming service to its customers.
- Por favor, tenga en cuenta las tarifas de itinerancia internacional antes de viajar.Please, take into account the international roaming fees before traveling.
- La compañía ofrece el servicio de roaming internacional a sus clientes en toda América Latina.The company provides international roaming service to its customers throughout Latin America.
- La itinerancia es muy cara en este país.Roaming is very expensive in this country.
- No tengo activada la itinerancia de datos.I do not have data roaming activated.
- Revisa si tu plan incluye la itinerancia.Check if your plan includes roaming.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing their phone connection while traveling.
- Mateo¿Por qué no tienes internet, Sofía?Why don't you have internet, Sofía?
- SofíaEs que no activé la itinerancia.It is because I did not activate roaming.
- MateoDeberías comprar un paquete de itinerancia.You should buy a roaming package.
- SofíaTienes razón, lo haré ahora mismo.You are right, I will do it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roaming” translations and entries itinerancia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries itinerancia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
