calles
/kaʝes/from spelling rules
The English word "streets" is translated into Spanish as calles.
The term calles refers to public roads within a city or town. While calles is the standard term for streets, you might use callejón when specifically describing an alley or a very small, narrow street.
Which one should you use?
While calles is the general term for streets, callejón is specifically used for an alley or a small narrow street. Additionally, the diminutive callecita can be used to refer to small or narrow streets with a touch of affection.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the famous Avenida Corrientes is often referred to simply as Corrientes. In Mexico, Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead) is a well-known street located within the ancient city of Teotihuacan.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form calles is feminine and requires the feminine plural article las, forming las calles.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʝes/
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the verb callejear, which describes the act of wandering through the calles with no particular destination just to explore.
- The word calle comes from the Latin callis, which originally referred to a narrow path or a track worn into the ground by animals.
- In Spanish, the word calle is used in the phrase la calle to describe the 'school of hard knocks' or the practical experience one gains from life rather than from books.
Examples in context
- Las calles están limpias.The streets are clean.This sentence is useful for describing the cleanliness of the calles.Tatoeba #1619737 by Shishir, translation #1615291 by Spamster
- Las calles estaban vacías.The streets were empty.This sentence is useful for describing the emptiness of the calles.Tatoeba #1551532 by Shishir, translation #1548165 by Spamster
- El agua inundó las calles.The water flooded the streets.This sentence is useful for describing water flooding the calles.Tatoeba #2268645 by hayastan, translation #2268644 by _undertoad
- La Calle Gran Vía está llena de tiendas maravillosas.Gran Vía Street is full of wonderful shops.
- La Avenida Reforma es una de las más importantes de la ciudad.Reforma Avenue is one of the most important in the city.
- Vamos a pasear por la callecita del barrio.Let's take a stroll along the little street in the neighborhood.
- El museo se encuentra al final del callejón.The museum is located at the end of the alley.
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are walking through a new neighborhood.
- ElenaEstas calles son muy tranquilas.These streets are very quiet.
- DanielSí, me gusta mucho este lugar.Yes, I like this place a lot.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿viste cuántas calles nuevas hay?Daniel, did you see how many new streets there are?
- DanielEs cierto, todo es muy moderno.It's true, everything is very modern.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
