Inklingo

How to Say "thoroughfare" in Spanish

English → Spanish

arteria

/ar-TEH-ryah//aɾˈteɾja/

nounB1traffic and roads
Use 'arteria' for a major road or highway that carries a significant amount of traffic, often a main route through a city or region.
A high-quality illustration of a busy multi-lane city road filled with colorful cars.

Examples

La Avenida de Mayo es una importante arteria del centro de Buenos Aires.

Avenida de Mayo is an important thoroughfare in downtown Buenos Aires.

La Avenida Insurgentes es la principal arteria de la Ciudad de México.

Insurgentes Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Mexico City.

Hubo un accidente en una de las arterias más importantes del centro.

There was an accident on one of the most important main roads downtown.

Metaphorical Meaning

Spanish uses 'arteria' for roads just like English does, because cars flow through a city like blood flows through a body.

travesía

nounB2a road that passes through a small town
Use 'travesía' for a road that cuts through a town or village, often a quieter, secondary route, especially one used as a shortcut or passage.

Examples

Cruzamos el pueblo por una estrecha travesía.

We crossed the town via a narrow thoroughfare.

Arteria vs. Travesía

The most common mistake is using 'arteria' when you mean a smaller street. Remember, 'arteria' implies a main road with heavy traffic, like a city's main artery, while 'travesía' refers to a road that simply passes through, often a quieter one.

Related Translations

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