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carril

kah-REEL/kaˈril/

lane

Also: track
NounmA2
General
A highway with a single lane clearly marked by a white line, with a small car driving on it.

📝 In Action

Tienes que conducir por el carril derecho.

A1

You have to drive in the right lane.

El carril bici es muy seguro en esta ciudad.

A2

The bike lane is very safe in this city.

No puedes cambiar de carril sin poner el intermitente.

B1

You cannot change lanes without using your turn signal.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • carril bici – bike lane
  • cambiar de carril – to change lanes
  • carril de aceleración – merging lane

Idioms & Expressions

  • ir por sus carriles – to follow the established rules or proper path

rail

Also: runner/slide, lane
NounmB1
Latin AmericaSpain
Parallel metal train tracks stretching toward the horizon through a green field.

📝 In Action

El tren se mantiene sobre los carriles de acero.

B1

The train stays on the steel rails.

El nadador más rápido está en el carril cuatro.

A2

The fastest swimmer is in lane four.

El cajón no cierra bien porque se salió del carril.

B2

The drawer doesn't close well because it came off the slide.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • raíl (rail)
  • riel (rail (common in Latin America))
  • calle (lane (used specifically in swimming))

Common Collocations

  • carril de natación – swimming lane
  • carril de cortina – curtain track

Idioms & Expressions

  • sacar de carril – to make someone lose their cool or focus

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "carril" in Spanish:

lane→rail→track→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: carril

Question 1 of 3

If you are driving and want to pass a slow truck, what do you need to do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
encarrilar(to put back on track) — Verb
descarrilar(to derail) — Verb
carrilera(track/railway) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Spanish word 'carro' (cart/carriage), combined with the suffix '-il' which denotes a place or relationship. It originally referred to the ruts or paths made by cart wheels in the ground.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: carril

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'carril' the same as 'vía'?

Not exactly. 'Vía' is a broader term for a road or way. A 'vía' (highway) can have multiple 'carriles' (lanes).

How do I say 'HOV lane' or 'Bus lane' in Spanish?

You usually say 'carril bus' for buses and 'carril VAO' (Vehículos de Alta Ocupación) for HOV lanes.

Can I use 'carril' for a path in the woods?

No, for a path or trail in nature, words like 'sendero', 'camino', or 'ruta' are much better.