How to Say "congestion" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “congestion” is “retención” — B1 level.
English → SpanishB1
nounB1
slowing of flow

Examples
Hay una retención de cinco kilómetros en la entrada de Madrid.
There is a five-kilometer traffic jam at the entrance to Madrid.
La lluvia causó varias retenciones en la autopista.
The rain caused several traffic delays on the highway.
Evita la zona centro por las retenciones debido a las obras.
Avoid the downtown area due to traffic congestion from the roadworks.
Distance vs. Time
Spanish speakers often describe traffic jams by their length (kilometers) rather than just time.
Related Translations
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