tranvía
“tranvía” means “streetcar” in Spanish (North American English).
streetcar, tram
Also: trolley
📝 In Action
El tranvía pasa cada diez minutos por esta calle.
A1The streetcar passes through this street every ten minutes.
Es mucho más ecológico viajar en tranvía que en coche.
A2It is much more eco-friendly to travel by tram than by car.
Los turistas disfrutan del recorrido en el tranvía histórico.
B1Tourists enjoy the ride on the historic streetcar.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tranvía
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is the correct way to say 'the streetcar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Directly borrowed from the English word 'tramway' in the 19th century, which combined 'tram' (a type of wagon) and 'way' (the road/path).
First recorded: 19th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tranvía' the same as a 'metro'?
Not quite. A 'tranvía' (streetcar) usually runs on the street alongside cars, while a 'metro' (subway) is typically underground and separated from traffic.
Why is it masculine if it ends in 'a'?
It is a loanword from the English 'tramway'. Many words borrowed from other languages or ending in '-vía' or '-ma' don't follow the usual 'a = feminine' rule.
Do all Spanish-speaking cities have tranvías?
No. They are very common in Spain (like Barcelona or Seville) and some major Latin American cities, but many cities replaced them with buses in the mid-20th century.