Inklingo
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ruta

/ROO-tah/

route

A winding dirt road stretching over green hills. A bright red dashed line is superimposed on the road, indicating a physical route from the foreground to the background.

Ruta as a physical course or journey (route).

ruta(noun)

fA1

route

?

physical course or journey

,

path

?

trail or road

Also:

itinerary

?

planned sequence of travel

📝 In Action

Perdimos la ruta y tuvimos que usar el GPS.

A1

We lost the route and had to use the GPS.

Esta es la ruta más rápida para llegar al aeropuerto.

A2

This is the fastest route to get to the airport.

La ruta de autobús número cinco pasa por el centro.

A1

Bus route number five goes through downtown.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • camino (road/path)
  • trayecto (journey/stretch)

Common Collocations

  • ruta turística – tourist route
  • hoja de ruta – roadmap (literal plan)

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Reminder

Even though 'ruta' ends in -a, remember it is always feminine: 'la ruta' (the route).

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'Hacer la ruta'

You can use the verb 'hacer' (to do/make) with 'ruta' to mean 'to travel the route' or 'to follow the path,' especially for hiking or cycling.

A series of four large, brightly colored stepping stones laid out sequentially across a pond, leading directly toward a shining golden star resting on the far bank, representing a planned sequence of actions.

Ruta referring to a planned sequence of action (course).

ruta(noun)

fB1

course

?

planned sequence of action

,

path

?

career or life direction

Also:

strategy

?

method or plan

📝 In Action

Su ruta profesional cambió después de la universidad.

B1

His career path changed after university.

Necesitamos definir la ruta a seguir para alcanzar los objetivos.

B2

We need to define the course to follow to reach the objectives.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • estrategia (strategy)
  • trayectoria (trajectory/course)

Common Collocations

  • ruta de acción – course of action

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Use

When used figuratively, 'ruta' emphasizes a specific, planned sequence of steps rather than just a general idea.

A visual depiction of several brightly colored, stylized digital folder icons connected sequentially by a thick blue line, representing a file directory path.

Ruta used to describe a file directory or network address (path).

ruta(noun)

fC1

path

?

file directory or network address

,

route

?

data communication

📝 In Action

Verifica la ruta del archivo para asegurarte de que es correcto.

C1

Check the file path to ensure it is correct.

Hay que configurar la ruta en el router para que funcione la red.

C2

The route must be configured in the router for the network to work.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dirección (address)

Common Collocations

  • ruta de acceso – access path

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ruta

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ruta' in its figurative sense (meaning a plan or course of action)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

rutero(road map/guidebook (or trucker in some regions)) - noun
enrutar(to route (technical/traffic)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ruta' the same as 'calle' or 'carretera'?

Not exactly. 'Ruta' refers to the planned course or itinerary you follow (like Bus Route 5). 'Calle' is a street inside a city, and 'carretera' is a highway or major road between cities. You follow a 'ruta' on a 'calle' or 'carretera'.

How do I pronounce the 'r' in 'ruta'?

Since 'ruta' starts with an R, you must use the strong, rolled 'rr' sound, even though it's only one R. It sounds like a quick, single drum roll with your tongue.