Inklingo

How to Say "city block" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cuadra

KWAA-drah/ˈkwaðɾa/

nounA2general
Use 'cuadra' when referring to a standard unit of distance between streets, often used for giving directions.
An aerial view of a typical urban area showing four buildings defining the perimeter of a square city block.

Examples

Mi casa está a solo dos cuadras del parque.

My house is only two blocks from the park.

¿Cuántas cuadras tenemos que caminar para llegar al museo?

How many blocks do we have to walk to get to the museum?

Using 'Cuadra' for Distance

When talking about distance, you usually use the preposition 'a' (at/to) followed by the number of blocks: 'Está a tres cuadras'.

Confusing 'Cuadra' and 'Manzana'

Mistake: “Using 'cuadra' in Spain when referring to the physical square of buildings.”

Correction: In Spain, 'manzana' refers to the physical block of buildings, while 'cuadra' is used mainly in Latin America for the distance.

manzana

/mahn-SAH-nah//manˈsana/

nounB1general
Choose 'manzana' to describe the actual physical area of land surrounded by streets, like a neighborhood block with buildings.
An aerial view illustration of a square city block containing several buildings, clearly bounded by four surrounding streets.

Examples

El supermercado está a tres manzanas de mi casa.

The supermarket is three blocks from my house.

Tuvimos que dar la vuelta a la manzana para encontrar un aparcamiento.

We had to drive around the block to find parking.

Using 'a' for Distance

When talking about distance using 'manzana' (block), you often use the preposition 'a' (at/to), as in 'a dos manzanas' (two blocks away).

bloque

BLO-keh/ˈblo.ke/

nounA2general
Use 'bloque' specifically when referring to an apartment building or a row of attached houses on a street.
A tall, imposing, rectangular residential building with many visible windows, known as an apartment block.

Examples

Mi amigo vive en el bloque de pisos al final de la calle.

My friend lives in the apartment block at the end of the street.

Solo tienes que caminar dos bloques más y llegas.

You only have to walk two blocks more and you arrive.

El incendio afectó a todo el bloque de viviendas.

The fire affected the entire housing block.

City Block Usage

Mistake: “Using 'bloque' for 'city block' in all Spanish-speaking areas.”

Correction: While understood everywhere, 'manzana' is more common than 'bloque' for 'city block' in many parts of Latin America, especially Mexico and the Caribbean. Use 'bloque' primarily for the building itself or general distance.

Cuadra vs. Manzana Confusion

Learners often confuse 'cuadra' (a unit of distance) and 'manzana' (the physical area). Remember, 'cuadra' is about how far you walk, while 'manzana' is the actual block of buildings.

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