Inklingo

How to Say "underground" in Spanish

English → Spanish

metro

MEH-troh/ˈme.tɾo/

nounA2general
Use 'metro' when referring to the underground public transportation system, commonly known as the subway or underground train.
A bright, modern subway train pulling into an underground station, seen from the platform.

Examples

¿Dónde está la parada de metro más cercana?

Where is the nearest subway stop?

Es más rápido ir en metro que en autobús.

It's faster to go by subway than by bus.

Toma la línea azul del metro hasta la estación central.

Take the blue subway line to the central station.

Using Transportation

To say how you travel, use the preposition 'en' (in/by) before the transportation method: 'Voy en metro' (I go by subway).

Preposition Choice

Mistake: “Voy por metro.”

Correction: Voy en metro.

subterráneo

/soob-teh-RRAH-neh-oh//subteˈraneo/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'subterráneo' to describe anything that is physically located beneath the ground's surface, like a tunnel or passage.
A cross-section view of the ground showing green grass on top and a small wooden door leading into a cozy room built into the dirt below.

Examples

Hay un pasadizo subterráneo que conecta los dos edificios.

There is an underground passage that connects the two buildings.

Las hormigas viven en túneles subterráneos.

Ants live in underground tunnels.

Matching Gender and Number

Because this is a describing word (adjective), it must change to match what it describes. Use 'subterráneo' for masculine things, 'subterránea' for feminine things, and add an 's' for plurals.

Placement

Mistake: “El subterráneo túnel.”

Correction: El túnel subterráneo.

enterrado

en-teh-RRAH-doh/enteˈrado/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'enterrado' when something has been deliberately put or is found buried within the earth, implying it's covered by soil.
A small wooden treasure chest half-submerged in brown dirt, with a simple silver shovel resting next to it.

Examples

Encontraron el cofre enterrado cerca del río.

They found the buried chest near the river.

La cápsula del tiempo quedó enterrada hace cien años.

The time capsule was buried a hundred years ago.

Después del sismo, muchas casas quedaron enterradas bajo la tierra.

After the earthquake, many houses were buried under the earth.

Gender and Number Match

Since 'enterrado' works like an adjective, its ending must match the thing it describes. Use 'enterrada' for feminine singular nouns (la carta enterrada), 'enterrados' for masculine plural, and 'enterradas' for feminine plural.

Forgetting the Agreement

Mistake: “La estatua fue enterrado.”

Correction: La estatua fue enterrada. (The ending must match the feminine noun 'estatua'.)

Metro vs. Subterráneo

The most common confusion is between 'metro' and 'subterráneo'. Remember that 'metro' specifically refers to the public transport system. 'Subterráneo' is a broader term for anything physically under the ground, not necessarily transport.

Related Translations

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