Spanish Road Signs

Try driving in a Spanish-speaking country, and you probably won't have too much difficulty with the signs — many of the essential signs use pictures or symbols that are recognized internationally, speed limits are expressed in numbers that you already know, and destination signs probably don't need translation. Even so, and especially once you're off the major highways, you may come across signs where the following list can help.

The following list indicates some of the words commonly used on signs. Keep in mind that in some regions you may see different words used than those listed here.

bus stop — parada
crossing — cruce
curve — curva
danger — peligro
dead end — sin salida
detour — desvío, desviación
downtown, city center — centro
exit — salida
lane — carril
no entry — entrada prohibida
no passing — adelantamiento prohibido
one-way — de sentido único, sentido obligatorio
parking — estacionamiento, aparcamiento (Verb forms are estacionar, aparcar and paquear, depending on the region. Parking is sometimes symbolized by a capital E or capital P, depending on the region.)
pedestrians — peatones
police — policía
prohibited — prohibido, prohibida
road closed — camino cerrado
slow — despacio
speed bump — tope
stop — alto, pare or stop, depending on the region
speed limit — velocidad máxima (typically indicated in kilometers per hour, often abbreviated km/h)
toll — peaje, cobro
viewpoint — vista de interés
yield — ceda, ceda el paso