atravesar

to cross

verb ah-trah-beh-SAHR Less Common

Also means

to go through

Usage Note

Atravesar is a stem-changing verb (e → ie): atravieso, atraviesas, atraviesa. It implies crossing or passing through something from one side to the other — a tunnel, a crisis, a difficult period. It is more emphatic than cruzar: cruzar la calle (to cross the street) vs atravesar el desierto (to cross/traverse the desert). Figuratively, atravesar una crisis means to go through a crisis.

Examples

"Atravesaron el desierto en tres días."

Natural Translation

They crossed the desert in three days.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Filler Words: 15 Ways to Sound Natural

Spanish filler words like pues, o sea, and vale make you sound natural, not robotic. Learn 15 muletillas sorted by job, by region, and when not to use them.

June 9, 2026 6 min read