circulación
“circulación” means “traffic” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
traffic
Also: flow
📝 In Action
Hay mucha circulación en el centro de la ciudad hoy.
A2There is a lot of traffic in the city center today.
Las nuevas señales ayudan a mejorar la circulación.
B1The new signs help improve the flow of traffic.
La policía cortó la circulación debido al accidente.
B2The police stopped the traffic due to the accident.
circulation
Also: distribution
📝 In Action
Caminar diariamente es muy bueno para la circulación sanguínea.
B1Walking daily is very good for blood circulation.
Este periódico tiene una gran circulación en todo el país.
B2This newspaper has a large circulation throughout the country.
Tener mala circulación puede causar frío en las manos.
B2Having poor circulation can cause cold hands.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: circulación
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'The traffic is slow'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'circulatio', which describes the act of moving in a circle or around a path.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'circulación' always feminine?
Yes! Like almost every Spanish word ending in '-ción', it is always feminine.
Can I use 'tráfico' instead of 'circulación'?
Usually, yes. 'Tráfico' is very common for cars on the road. However, you cannot use 'tráfico' to talk about blood flow in your body; for that, you must use 'circulación'.
How do I pronounce the 'ci' in 'circulación'?
In Spain, it sounds like a soft 'th' (like 'thin'). In Latin America, it sounds like an 's' (like 'sun').