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vía

VEE-ahˈbi.a

way, road

Also: avenue, lane
NounfA1
A winding dirt path leading through a grassy field towards a distant hill under a bright blue sky.

📝 In Action

La vía de acceso a la ciudad está cerrada.

A1

The access road to the city is closed.

Necesitamos abrir una vía para que pasen los camiones.

A2

We need to clear a way for the trucks to pass.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vía pública – public road/street
  • vía rápida – expressway, freeway

means, channel

Also: procedure
NounfB1
A simple wooden bridge acting as a connection between two sides of a calm stream, symbolizing a channel or method.

📝 In Action

Puedes enviarme el documento por vía electrónica.

B1

You can send me the document electronically (by electronic means).

Tenemos que resolver esto por la vía legal.

B2

We have to resolve this through legal channels (by legal means).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • método (method)
  • medio (means)

Common Collocations

  • por vía de – by means of
  • vía telefónica – by telephone

track, line

Also: rail
NounfA2
A straight railway line made of steel rails and wooden ties, receding slightly into the distance.

📝 In Action

El tren a Sevilla sale de la vía número dos.

A2

The train to Seville leaves from track number two.

Tienen que cambiar de vía en la próxima estación.

B1

They have to change tracks at the next station.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vía muerta – siding, dead end track

tract, route

Also: pathway
NounfB2formal
A simple, stylized illustration of a smooth, curving pink biological tube winding inside a neutral background, representing an internal bodily tract.

📝 In Action

El medicamento se administra por vía oral.

B2

The medication is administered orally (by mouth).

La infección se propagó por las vías respiratorias.

C1

The infection spread through the respiratory tracts.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vía intravenosa – intravenous route (IV)
  • vías urinarias – urinary tract

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "vía" in Spanish:

pathway→tract→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: vía

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'vía' to mean 'method' or 'means'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
díatía
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin noun *via*, which meant 'way,' 'road,' or 'path.' This simple root is the reason why 'vía' is used both for physical roads and figurative methods.

First recorded: Historically present since the earliest Romance languages.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: viaPortuguese: via

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'vía' masculine or feminine?

'Vía' is always a feminine noun, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la vía', 'una vía ancha').

What's the difference between 'vía' and 'calle'?

'Calle' is the general word for a street in a city. 'Vía' usually refers to a larger, more important route, like a main road, highway, or a specific track (like a train track).