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How to Say "to cross" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cruzar

/kroo-SAHR//kɾuˈsaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'cruzar' to talk about moving from one side to another of a physical space like a street, a room, or a border, or to describe placing one body part over another.
A stylized illustration of a person walking across a narrow wooden bridge spanning a blue river, moving from one side to the other.

Examples

Tienes que cruzar la calle para llegar a la tienda.

You have to cross the street to get to the store.

El equipo logró cruzar la meta en primer lugar.

The team managed to cross the finish line in first place.

Vamos a cruzar el puente porque es más rápido.

We are going to cross the bridge because it is faster.

Ella cruza los brazos cuando está molesta.

She crosses her arms when she is annoyed.

The Z to C Spelling Change

Because Spanish doesn't allow 'ze' or 'zi', the 'z' in cruzar must change to a 'c' whenever it is followed by an 'e'. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past tense (crucé) and throughout the entire present subjunctive (cruce, crucemos, etc.).

Using the Reflexive for Exchange

When people exchange something (like glances or words), we often use the reflexive form cruzarse: 'Nos cruzamos unas palabras' (We exchanged a few words).

Forgetting the Z/C Change

Mistake: “Yo cruzé la línea.”

Correction: Yo crucé la línea. (Remember Z changes to C before E.)

pasar

/pa-sar//paˈsaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'pasar' to indicate crossing a boundary like a street or border, or to signify the passage of time.
A small, brightly colored car driving across a simple wooden bridge over a small stream.

Examples

El tiempo pasa muy rápido cuando te diviertes.

Time passes very quickly when you're having fun.

Vimos pasar un tren por la ventana.

We saw a train pass by the window.

Para ir al banco, tienes que pasar el puente.

To get to the bank, you have to cross the bridge.

atravesar

/ah-trah-veh-SAHR//a.tɾa.βeˈsaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'atravesar' when the action of crossing involves going through or piercing something, like a forest, a river, or a barrier.
A person stepping across a narrow river using stepping stones, moving from one side to the other.

Examples

Necesitamos atravesar el puente para llegar al otro lado.

We need to cross the bridge to get to the other side.

El tren atraviesa los campos de trigo muy rápido.

The train crosses the wheat fields very quickly.

Stem Change Rule

This verb is irregular because the 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' whenever the stress falls on that syllable (in the 'boot' forms of the present tense).

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Yo 'atraveso' (Incorrect form)”

Correction: Yo 'atravieso' (The 'e' must change to 'ie' in the first person singular).

Cruzar vs. Atravesar

Learners often confuse 'cruzar' and 'atravesar'. Remember that 'cruzar' is for moving side-to-side across an open space, while 'atravesar' implies moving *through* an obstacle or area. Think of 'cruzar la calle' (crossing the street) versus 'atravesar el bosque' (crossing through the forest).

Related Translations

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