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carretera means road; highway — a common term in Travel Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: August 6, 2025

✈️ Travel Spanish

carretera

noun • /[kah-reh-TEH-rah]/

road; highway

Example:

La carretera está cortada por obras.

The road is closed for construction.

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🧠 What does carretera mean?

Carretera generally refers to a paved road or highway outside of urban areas. Think of the roads you'd take to travel between cities or towns. While it can sometimes refer to any road, it's most commonly used for intercity routes, and often implies a longer distance than 'calle', which is used for streets within a city or town.

📚 Extra examples

  • El viaje por carretera fue largo y agotador.
    The road trip was long and tiring.
  • Conduce con cuidado, la carretera está resbaladiza.
    Drive carefully, the road is slippery.
  • Hay obras en la carretera.
    There are roadworks on the highway.
  • Tomamos la carretera costera.
    We took the coastal highway.
  • La carretera panamericana es muy famosa.
    The Pan-American Highway is very famous.

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'road' or 'highway' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'road' or 'highway' in Spanish is 'carretera'. While other words like 'camino' or 'vía' exist, 'carretera' specifically refers to paved roads, often outside of urban areas.
How do you pronounce 'carretera' in Spanish?
It's pronounced kar-re-TE-ra, with the stress on the 'TE' syllable.
How do you use 'carretera' in a sentence?
Here are a few examples: 'Vamos de viaje por carretera' (We're going on a road trip), or 'Hay mucho tráfico en la carretera' (There's a lot of traffic on the highway).
What is the English translation of 'carretera'?
Carretera translates to 'road' or 'highway' in English.
Does 'carretera' change for gender or number?
No, 'carretera' is always feminine and the plural is 'carreteras'.
Is 'carretera' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'carretera' is very common, especially when discussing travel or transportation.
Does 'carretera' have slang or double meanings?
Not really. 'Carretera' has a pretty straightforward meaning. In some contexts, it can figuratively refer to a path or journey, but this is less common.
Is 'carretera' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The meaning and usage of 'carretera' are generally consistent across Spain and Latin America.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "carretera"

Synonyms: camino, vía, ruta
Opposites: calle

💡 Did You Know?

The word 'carretera' comes from 'carro', meaning 'cart', reflecting the original purpose of roads for cart transportation.

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