Inklingo

How to Say "intersection" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cruce

/kroo-seh//ˈkɾuθe/

nounA1general
Use 'cruce' when referring to a general road junction or crossing point, especially in everyday conversation about navigating streets.
A high-angle view of two simple, colorful roads meeting at a perfect four-way junction in a bright landscape.

Examples

El cruce de la calle principal siempre está congestionado.

The intersection of the main street is always congested.

Tuvimos que esperar en el cruce del ferrocarril.

We had to wait at the railroad crossing.

Gender Check

Remember that 'cruce' is masculine: 'el cruce'. It sounds like it might be feminine because it ends in '-e', but it follows the pattern of words derived from verbs.

Confusing 'cruce' and 'cruz'

Mistake: “Usar 'la cruce' para decir 'the cross' (religious symbol).”

Correction: Use 'la cruz' (the cross) for the object, and 'el cruce' (the intersection/act of crossing) for the place or action.

crucero

kroo-SEH-roh/kɾuˈseɾo/

nounA2general
Choose 'crucero' when referring to a more prominent or official intersection, often a main road crossing or a place where traffic control is significant.
A simple aerial depiction of two asphalt roads crossing each other perpendicularly, forming a clear four-way intersection.

Examples

Tuvimos que esperar mucho en el crucero principal de la ciudad.

We had to wait a long time at the main intersection of the city.

Hay un semáforo nuevo en ese crucero peligroso.

There is a new traffic light at that dangerous crossing.

Synonym Use

In many Spanish-speaking areas, 'cruce' is used more often than 'crucero' for a simple street crossing, but 'crucero' is common for major, complex intersections.

Cruce vs. Crucero

The most common mistake is using 'crucero' for every simple street crossing. Reserve 'crucero' for more substantial intersections, like main road junctions or traffic circles, and use the more general 'cruce' for most other places where streets meet.

Related Translations

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