rastro
/ˈrastɾo/
The Spanish word for trace is rastro.
The noun rastro refers to a physical track or sign left behind. It is most commonly used in the idiomatic expression sin dejar rastro to mean 'without a trace'. The verb form for the action of following a trail or tracing something is rastrear.
Meaning: to follow the trail of (verb)
Which one should you use?
While rastro refers to a physical track or sign left behind, it is distinct from traza, which refers to a line, a sketch or a mathematical trace. Additionally, calcar is a related form meaning the act of tracing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrastɾo/
Did you know?
- In Madrid, the term El Rastro is the name of a famous, massive open-air flea market that has been held in the same area for centuries.
- The word rastro is a linguistic relative of the English word 'raster' used in computer graphics. Both derive from a Latin root referring to a scraping tool or rake.
- In the digital age, the verb rastrear has moved from the woods to the web, used for 'tracking' data packets or IP addresses.
Examples in context
- El desapareció sin rastro.He vanished without a trace.This sentence shows how to use rastro to say someone vanished without a trace.Tatoeba #7893974 by Shelmi, translation #7893365 by megamanenm
- Desapareció sin dejar rastro.He disappeared without a trace.This sentence uses rastro to describe disappearing without a trace.Tatoeba #457480 by Shishir, translation #2096 by CK
- Tom desapareció sin dejar rastro.Tom disappeared without leaving a trace.This sentence uses rastro to show how Tom disappeared without leaving a trace.Tatoeba #1386600 by marcelostockle, translation #1026232 by CK
- Necesito encontrar el rastro del delincuente.I need to find the trace of the criminal.
- La huella dactilar se utiliza para rastrear a los delincuentes.Fingerprint is used to trace the criminals.
- No hay vestigios de actividad humana en esta área.There are no traces of human activity in this area.
- ¿Viste algún rastro de la fiesta de anoche?Did you see any trace of last night's party?
- No puedo encontrar ninguna pista de dónde dejé mis llaves.I can't find any trace of where I left my keys.
- La policía encontró un rastro de sangre en la escena del crimen.The police found a trace of blood at the crime scene.
- No hay huellas en la arena que indiquen que alguien haya estado aquí.There are no footprints in the sand indicating that someone has been here.
- La pista del virus llevó a los científicos a buscar una cura.The trace of the virus led scientists to search for a cure.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are looking for a lost dog in the woods.
- MaríaMira, creo que encontré el rastro.Look, I think I found the trail.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien! ¿Hacia dónde va el rastro?Great! Where is the trail leading?
- MaríaParece que el rastro va hacia el río.It seems the trail goes toward the river.
- AlejandroSigamos el rastro rápidamente, María.Let's follow the trail quickly, María.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rastro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rastro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
