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ferroviario

fe-rro-BYAH-ryo/fereoˈβjaɾjo/

“ferroviario” means “railway” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

railway

Also: railroad
A colorful steam train traveling along a set of metal tracks through a green field.

📝 In Action

España tiene una gran red ferroviaria de alta velocidad.

B1

Spain has a large high-speed railway network.

El transporte ferroviario es más ecológico que el avión.

B1

Railway transport is more eco-friendly than flying.

Hubo un pequeño retraso por un problema ferroviario.

B2

There was a short delay due to a railway problem.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • de tren (related to trains)

Common Collocations

  • red ferroviaria – railway network
  • sector ferroviario – railway sector
  • paso ferroviario – railroad crossing

railway worker

Also: railroader
NounmB2
Argentina
A railway worker in a bright vest and cap standing next to a train, holding a signal flag.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo fue ferroviario durante treinta años.

B1

My grandfather was a railway worker for thirty years.

Los ferroviarios anunciaron una huelga para el lunes.

B2

The railway workers announced a strike for Monday.

Es un gremio de ferroviarios muy unido.

C1

It is a very united union of railway workers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • empleado de ferrocarriles (railway employee)

Common Collocations

  • gremio ferroviario – railway union
  • familia ferroviaria – railway family (tradition of working on trains)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ferroviario" in Spanish:

railroad→railroader→railway→railway worker→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ferroviario

Question 1 of 3

If you see a sign that says 'Red Ferroviaria', what are you looking at?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
hierro(iron) — Noun
ferrocarril(railway/railroad) — Noun
férreo(iron-like/strict) — Adjective
herrar(to shoe (a horse)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin words 'ferrum' (meaning iron) and 'via' (meaning way/track). It literally describes the 'iron way' used by trains.

First recorded: 19th century (with the rise of the industrial revolution)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ferroviárioItalian: ferroviario

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'ferroviario' to talk about a toy train?

Not usually. For toys, we just say 'tren de juguete'. 'Ferroviario' is used for the real transport system and its workers.

What is the difference between 'ferrocarril' and 'ferroviario'?

'Ferrocarril' is the noun for the physical railway or the train system itself. 'Ferroviario' is the descriptor (the adjective) or the person working there.

Is it used in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Yes, although the size of the train network varies by country, the word is universally understood as the formal term for anything related to trains.