Inklingo

How to Say "roads" in Spanish

English → Spanish

calles

KAH-yes (or KAH-yays)/ˈka.ʎes/

nounA1urban setting
Use 'calles' when referring to the streets within a city or town, the urban pathways where buildings are located.
A colorful illustration showing a long, empty paved street lined with simple, stylized houses under a bright blue sky.

Examples

Las calles de Madrid son muy bonitas.

The streets of Madrid are very beautiful.

¿Dónde están las mejores calles para comprar ropa?

Where are the best streets for buying clothes?

La policía patrullaba las calles desiertas en la noche.

The police patrolled the deserted streets at night.

Gender Reminder

Even though 'calles' ends in 'es', remember its singular form 'calle' is feminine, so it always uses feminine articles (las calles, unas calles).

carreteras

/kah-rreh-teh-rahs//ka.reˈte.ɾas/

nounA2general term for paved paths for vehicles
Use 'carreteras' for general, paved routes designed for vehicles, especially those connecting towns or traveling through rural areas.
A long, winding paved road stretching through a green countryside under a blue sky.

Examples

Las carreteras en esta región son muy sinuosas.

The roads in this region are very windy.

Hay muchas carreteras que conectan Madrid con la costa.

There are many highways that connect Madrid with the coast.

Debemos tener cuidado en las carreteras cuando llueve.

We must be careful on the roads when it rains.

Making it Plural

Since 'carretera' ends in a vowel, you simply add an '-s' to talk about more than one. Because it's a feminine word, remember to use 'las' or 'unas' with it.

Road vs. Street

Mistake: “Using 'carreteras' to describe a small street inside a city.”

Correction: Use 'calles' for city streets. 'Carreteras' are for the big roads that connect one town to another.

Street vs. Road

The most common mistake is using 'carreteras' for city streets. Remember that 'calles' specifically refers to streets within a town or city, while 'carreteras' is the broader term for inter-city or rural roads.

Related Translations

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