vía
/VEE-ah/
way
Vía used to mean a path or route (way).
📝 In Action
La vía de acceso a la ciudad está cerrada.
A1The access road to the city is closed.
Necesitamos abrir una vía para que pasen los camiones.
A2We need to clear a way for the trucks to pass.
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent Mark
Notice the accent mark on the 'i' (vía). This ensures the two vowels are pronounced separately (VEE-ah) instead of together as a single syllable (like 'viaje').
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Vía' vs. 'Calle'
While 'calle' is used for smaller city streets, 'vía' often refers to larger, more important roads, access routes, or major thoroughfares.
Vía referring to a means or channel.
📝 In Action
Puedes enviarme el documento por vía electrónica.
B1You can send me the document electronically (by electronic means).
Tenemos que resolver esto por la vía legal.
B2We have to resolve this through legal channels (by legal means).
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Por Vía'
When referring to a method or channel, 'vía' is almost always preceded by the preposition 'por' (by/through).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Communication
Using 'vía' often makes the communication sound slightly more formal or official than simply using 'por' alone.
Vía meaning a railway track or line.
📝 In Action
El tren a Sevilla sale de la vía número dos.
A2The train to Seville leaves from track number two.
Tienen que cambiar de vía en la próxima estación.
B1They have to change tracks at the next station.
⭐ Usage Tips
Transportation Context
When talking about trains, 'vía' is the standard word for the track itself, much like 'platform' is 'andén'.
Vía referring to a biological tract or system.
📝 In Action
El medicamento se administra por vía oral.
B2The medication is administered orally (by mouth).
La infección se propagó por las vías respiratorias.
C1The infection spread through the respiratory tracts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical Terminology
In a medical setting, 'vía' specifies the way something enters the body (e.g., 'vía oral', 'vía tópica').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'vía' to mean 'method' or 'means'?
📚 More Resources
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).