desvío
“desvío” means “detour” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
detour
Also: bypass, diversion
📝 In Action
Tuvimos que tomar un desvío por las obras en la carretera.
A2We had to take a detour because of the roadwork.
El desvío está bien señalizado con carteles naranjas.
B1The detour is well-marked with orange signs.
Cualquier desvío del plan original podría ser peligroso.
B2Any deviation from the original plan could be dangerous.
misappropriation
Also: embezzlement, distraction
📝 In Action
El desvío de fondos públicos causó un gran escándalo.
B2The misappropriation of public funds caused a huge scandal.
La policía investiga el desvío de capitales al extranjero.
C1The police are investigating the diversion of capital abroad.
Fue un desvío de atención para ocultar el problema real.
C1It was a distraction to hide the real problem.
I divert
Also: I deflect
📝 In Action
Yo siempre desvío las llamadas de números desconocidos.
B1I always forward/divert calls from unknown numbers.
Si veo un obstáculo, desvío el coche rápidamente.
B2If I see an obstacle, I swerve the car quickly.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desvío
Question 1 of 3
If you are driving and see a sign that says 'Desvío', what should you do?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the prefix 'des-' (meaning away or off) combined with 'vía' (meaning way or path). Literally, it means to get off the path.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'desvío' and 'desviación'?
'Desvío' usually refers to a physical detour (like on a road) or an act of diverting money. 'Desviación' is more common in science, statistics, or abstract concepts like 'standard deviation'.
How do I know if 'desvío' is a verb or a noun in a sentence?
Look at the words around it! If it has 'el' or 'un' before it, it's a noun (the detour). If it follows 'yo', it's the verb (I divert).
Does 'desvío' always have an accent?
Yes, when written as 'desvío' (the noun or the 'I' form of the verb), it always has an accent on the 'í'. Without it, the pronunciation would change and it would be an incorrect word.