How to Say "sidewalk" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “sidewalk” is “acera” — use 'acera' for the general term for sidewalk, the paved path alongside a street intended for pedestrians. This is the most common and universally understood translation.
acera
ah-SEH-rahaˈseɾa
Examples
Camina por la acera para estar seguro.
Walk on the sidewalk to stay safe.
Las tiendas de esta acera son muy caras.
The shops on this side of the street are very expensive.
El ayuntamiento va a ensanchar las aceras del centro.
The city council is going to widen the sidewalks downtown.
Gender Identification
Like most Spanish words ending in '-a', 'acera' is feminine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.
Talking about Movement
Use the word 'por' when you want to say you are walking 'along' or 'down' the sidewalk (e.g., 'Caminar por la acera').
Don't confuse with 'cerca'
Mistake: “Estoy caminando en la cerca.”
Correction: Estoy caminando por la acera.
cera
seh-rahˈseɾa
Examples
No camines por la calle, ve por la cera.
Don't walk in the street, use the sidewalk.
Shortened forms
In some dialects, words starting with 'a' often lose that first letter in casual speech. 'Acera' becomes 'cera'.
Standard vs. Regional
Mistake: “Using 'cera' for sidewalk in formal writing.”
Correction: In essays or formal documents, always use 'acera'. Use 'cera' only when speaking casually in regions where it's common.
Acera vs. Cera
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