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aduana

customs (border control)

noun ah-DWAH-nah Rare
Travel & Places Landmarks

Origin: From Arabic ad-dīwān, 'the registry office'.

Usage Note

Aduana is the government office that controls goods and people crossing a border; el/la agente de aduana is the customs officer. The Arabic origin reflects the administrative vocabulary introduced during the Moorish period in Iberia. In everyday travel, pasar por la aduana means 'to go through customs.'

Examples

"Tuvimos que declarar todo en la aduana."

Natural Translation

We had to declare everything at customs.

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