el freno
El freno is the brake of a vehicle, the part you press to slow down or stop. It can also refer to braking as an action in context.
Common Phrases
- pisar el freno — to press the brake
- frenar suave — to brake gently
Example
Pisa el freno con cuidado en la bajada.
Press the brake carefully on the downhill.
Common Mistake
Avoid literal translations like presionar el freno; in everyday driving Spanish, pisar el freno sounds more natural.
el peaje
El peaje is a toll you pay to use certain roads, bridges, or highways. It can be the fee itself or the toll station in casual speech.
Common Phrases
- pagar el peaje — to pay the toll
- caseta de peaje — toll booth
Example
Pagamos el peaje con tarjeta.
We paid the toll by card.
Common Mistake
Do not confuse el peaje with la propina (tip). Avoid el tip or la tip; the correct word is el peaje.
el garaje
El garaje is a garage, a place where you park a car or store vehicles. It can be private (at home) or public (in a building).
Common Phrases
- entrar al garaje — to enter the garage
- salir del garaje — to leave the garage
Example
El garaje es pequeno, entra despacio.
The garage is small, go in slowly.
Common Mistake
Watch spelling: el garaje is correct; avoid el garage in Spanish writing.
el conductor
El conductor is the driver, the person operating a vehicle. It is a common, neutral term (more formal than some alternatives).
Common Phrases
- el conductor del coche — the driver of the car
- conductor profesional — professional driver
Example
El conductor vio el semaforo a tiempo.
The driver saw the traffic light in time.
Common Mistake
Do not mix gendered forms: use el conductor for a man and la conductora for a woman; avoid la conductor.
el tunel
El tunel is a tunnel, a covered passage through a mountain or under a road. In driving contexts it often connects to safety actions like turning on lights.
Common Phrases
- entrar en el tunel — to enter the tunnel
- salir del tunel — to exit the tunnel
Example
En el tunel, enciende las luces.
In the tunnel, turn on the lights.
Common Mistake
Prepositions matter: use en el tunel for location; avoid a el tunel unless you mean direction, and even then prefer al tunel.
el semaforo
El semaforo is a traffic light that controls cars and pedestrians with red, yellow, and green signals. It is a core word for city driving and crossings.
Common Phrases
- pasar el semaforo — to go through the traffic light
- el semaforo en rojo — the traffic light on red
Example
El semaforo cambio a rojo.
The traffic light changed to red.
Common Mistake
Do not use the English loan spelling: semaforo is Spanish; avoid traffic light inside Spanish sentences.
la ruta
La ruta is a route, the path you take from one place to another. It can be a planned itinerary or the practical way you choose while driving.
Common Phrases
- tomar una ruta — to take a route
- cambiar de ruta — to change routes
Example
Tomamos la ruta por el tunel.
We took the route through the tunnel.
Common Mistake
Gender mix-ups are common: it is la ruta, not el ruta.
el trafico
El trafico is traffic, the flow and density of vehicles on roads. It is used for both normal movement and heavy congestion.
Common Phrases
- mucho trafico — a lot of traffic
- un atasco de trafico — a traffic jam
Example
Hay mucho trafico hoy.
There is a lot of traffic today.
Common Mistake
Avoid saying los traficos for different situations; in Spanish, el trafico is usually uncountable like in English.