Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| calle | /ˈkaʝe/ | feminine |
| lleca | /ˈʝeka/ | colloquial, feminine |
| rúa | /ˈrua/ | feminine |
| jirón | /xiˈɾon/ | masculine |
The term refers to a paved part of a road in a village or a town. While calle is the standard term, you may encounter avenida to describe a broad and often tree-lined street, a term common in Latin America. To say someone is 'out on the street' or outdoors, you use the phrase en la calle.
Which one should you use?
While calle is the standard word, lleca is a colloquial or slang variation. In some contexts, vía can be used as a formal way to refer to a street, particularly in specific regions or legal settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For an affectionate way to refer to a small street, you can use the diminutive callecita. In formal or legal contexts, vía may be appropriate. Lleca is a colloquial or slang term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regional contexts, especially in areas influenced by Galician, the word rúa is used for street. In Latin America, avenida is commonly used to denote a broad, often tree-lined street.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word calle is a feminine noun. Its plural form is las calles.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝe/
Did you know?
- The slang term lleca is actually the word calle spelled backwards. This linguistic trick is known as 'vesre', a common way to create slang in Argentina and other parts of Latin America.
- The word jirón is a loanword from the French word giron, which originally meant 'lap'.
- Spanish speakers use the phrase dar una vuelta to mean taking a stroll down the street, which literally translates to 'giving a turn'.
Examples in context
- Vivo en la calle.I live on the street.This sentence shows how to state your place of residence using calle.Tatoeba #8323893 by arh, translation #13236901 by rul
- Yo crucé la calle.I crossed the street.This sentence demonstrates the action of crossing a street using calle.Tatoeba #1392644 by marcelostockle, translation #1078027 by keira_n
- Tom cruzó la calle.Tom walked across the street.This sentence provides another example of walking across a street using calle.Tatoeba #770920 by Shishir, translation #37058 by CK
- La calle es muy bonitaThe street is very beautiful
- ¿Dónde está la calle principal?Where is the main street?
- La callejuela del barrio es pintoresca y llena de historia.The little street in the neighborhood is picturesque and full of history.
- 379 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are walking through a small town.
- Sofía¿Sabes cómo se llama esta calle?Do you know what this street is called?
- AlejandroNo estoy seguro, Sofía.I am not sure, Sofía.
- SofíaEs una calle muy bonita.It is a very beautiful street.
- AlejandroSí, me gusta mucho el ambiente.Yes, I like the atmosphere a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “street” translations and entries calle, lleca, rúa, jirón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calle, jirón, lleca, rúa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
