Inklingo
← Dictionary

ruta

ROO-tahˈruta

route, path

Also: itinerary
NounfA1
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.

📝 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

Common Collocations

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

course, path

Also: strategy
NounfB1
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.

📝 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

Common Collocations

  • ruta de acción – course of action

path, route

NounfC1technical
A visual depiction of several brightly colored, stylized digital folder icons connected sequentially by a thick blue line, representing a file directory path.

📝 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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ruta" in Spanish:

course→itinerary→path→route→strategy→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'ruta' comes from the French word 'route,' which itself originated from the Latin phrase *rupta (via)*, meaning a 'broken' or 'cleared' path—a trail that had been opened up through the wilderness.

First recorded: Medieval period (via French)

Cognates (Related words)

French: routeEnglish: route

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

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.