How to Say "strait" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “strait” is “canal” — use 'canal' for a significant, often man-made or exceptionally well-known natural waterway, like the Panama Canal, or a general channel for water.
canal
kah-NAHLkaˈnal
Examples
El Canal de Panamá es una obra de ingeniería impresionante.
The Panama Canal is an impressive engineering work.
Tuvimos que cruzar un pequeño canal de riego para llegar al campo.
We had to cross a small irrigation ditch to reach the field.
Geographical Names
When referring to famous geographical features, the word 'canal' often remains capitalized, like 'El Canal de la Mancha' (The English Channel).
estrecho
es-TRE-choesˈtɾet͡ʃo
Examples
Muchos barcos cruzan el estrecho de Gibraltar cada día.
Many ships cross the Strait of Gibraltar every day.
El estrecho de Magallanes está en el sur de Chile.
The Strait of Magellan is in the south of Chile.
El estrecho conecta los dos océanos.
The strait connects the two oceans.
Always Masculine
When referring to a body of water, it is always 'el estrecho'. Even though the water (el agua) is feminine, 'estrecho' functions as a masculine noun here.
Canal vs. Estrecho
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