camino empinado
/kamino empinado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "steep road" is translated into Spanish as camino empinado.
It is typically used when referring to paths or roads in rural or unpaved settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of camino (path/road) and empinado (steep).
Which one should you use?
While camino empinado refers to a path or road often found in rural or unpaved environments, you should use calle empinada if you are describing a steep street in an urban environment.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must change: caminos empinados.
Did you know?
- The verb from which empinado is derived, empinar, can also be used to describe a person 'lifting' their chin or nose in an act of pride or arrogance.
- In Spanish, the word empinar can also mean to tilt a glass to drink the last bit of a beverage.
- The term camino descends from Gaulish through Medieval Latin, rather than coming directly from Classical Latin.
Examples in context
- El camino hacia la montaña tiene una pendiente pronunciada, te sugiero tener precaución.The road towards the mountain has a pronounced slope, I suggest you be cautious.
- Al final de la avenida encontrarás una cuesta empinada que te llevará a la iglesia.At the end of the avenue, you'll find a steep incline that will take you to the church.
- Vamos a subir por esa calle empinada hasta llegar al restaurante.Let's go up that steep road until we reach the restaurant.
- No puedo creer que vivas en esa casa en la subida pronunciada, ¡debes estar en excelente forma!I can't believe you live in that house on the steep incline, you must be in great shape!
- Es un camino empinado.It is a steep road.
- Cuidado con ese camino empinado.Be careful with that steep road.
- Prefiero no subir por el camino empinado.I prefer not to go up the steep road.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are planning a hiking route.
- Lucía¿Es difícil el camino empinado?Is the steep road difficult?
- JavierSí, Lucía, es un camino empinado y largo.Yes, Lucía, it is a steep and long road.
- LucíaEntonces, busquemos otra ruta.Then, let's look for another route.
- JavierDe acuerdo, busquemos un camino más fácil.Agreed, let's look for an easier road.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camino, empinado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
