Spanish word

ferrocarril

Pronunciation

IPA/ferokaˈril/

Meaning

  • masculine nounrailroad

Example

¿Cuánto tarda el ferrocarril hasta la estación central?

How long does it take to get to the central station by rail?

Illustration for ferrocarril (railroad)

More examples

¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril más cercana?

Where is the nearest train station?

Core concept

Network of tracks and stations.

Common phrases

  • estación de ferrocarril

    train station

  • servicio de ferrocarril

    train service

  • horario de ferrocarril

    train timetable

Similar words

tren: Vehicle that runs on tracks to transport passengers or cargo.
estación: Place where trains stop and passengers board or alight.
metro: Urban rail network using underground or dedicated tracks to move many passengers.
línea: Specific railway route or service connecting a sequence of stations.

Definition in Spanish

Conjunto de vías, estaciones y servicios que forman una red para el transporte por tren.

Word origin

From ferro 'iron' (Latin ferrum) and carril 'track' (from Latin carrus via Old Spanish), literally 'iron track' and used for the railway system.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech people usually say tren or línea de tren for a train or a line, while ferrocarril commonly refers to the railway system, its infrastructure, or formal names.

Other meanings

  • railnoun
  • rail linenoun

Related words

  • ferroviariorailwayadjective

Word lists with this word