Inklingo
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A dark, circular tunnel entrance carved into a steep green hillside, illustrating an underground passage.

túnel

TOO-nel

nounmA1
tunnel?underground passage
Also:underpass?road or pedestrian passage under a railway or road,tube?slang for underground system

📝 In Action

El tren desapareció en el largo túnel de la montaña.

A1

The train disappeared into the long mountain tunnel.

Tuvimos que cruzar un túnel peatonal para llegar al otro lado de la calle.

A2

We had to cross a pedestrian underpass to get to the other side of the street.

La construcción del nuevo túnel de metro tardará tres años.

B1

The construction of the new subway tunnel will take three years.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • galería (gallery, passage)
  • pasadizo (passageway)

Common Collocations

  • túnel de viento – wind tunnel (aerodynamics)
  • túnel de lavado – car wash (tunnel)
  • excavar un túnel – to dig a tunnel

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Remember that 'túnel' is always a masculine word, so you must use the masculine articles: 'el túnel' (the tunnel) or 'un túnel' (a tunnel).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La túnel"

Correction: El túnel. Many Spanish nouns ending in -L are masculine, like 'papel' and 'hotel'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'Túnel' in Sports

In soccer, making a 'túnel' means kicking the ball between an opponent's legs (a 'nutmeg'). It's a fun, common usage.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: túnel

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase correctly describes the common action related to building a túnel?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tuneladora(tunnel boring machine) - noun
tunelar(to tunnel (rarely used, usually 'excavar un túnel')) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'túnel' masculine or feminine?

'Túnel' is always masculine: 'el túnel'. Even though it ends in 'L', which sometimes confuses learners, treat it like 'el papel' or 'el hotel'.

Can 'túnel' refer to things other than underground passages?

Yes! In specialized contexts, 'túnel' is used in phrases like 'túnel de viento' (wind tunnel) or 'túnel de lavado' (car wash). It can also mean 'nutmeg' in soccer slang.