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"Cruzar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to cross", and "atravesar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to cross". Learn more about the difference between "cruzar" and "atravesar" below.
cruzar(
kroo
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to go across
Roberto cruzó el puente para entrar al pueblo.Roberto went across the bridge to enter the town.
a. to exchange
Desde que se separaron, ya no cruzan palabras al encontrarse.Since they broke up, they don't exchange any words when they meet.
a. to cross
Los granjeros cruzaron una yegua con un burro para conseguir una mula.The farmers crossed a mare with a donkey to get a mule.
a. to cross out
Cruza esta palabra que escribiste dos veces.Cross out this word that you wrote twice.
a. to cross
Steven cruzó el cheque para poder depositarlo.Steven crossed the cheque in order to be able to deposit it.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
cruzarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to cross
La avenida Lázaro Cárdenas y el anillo periférico se cruzan en el sur.Lazaro Cardenas Avenue and the beltway cross in the south.
b. to intersect
Como estas líneas son paralelas, nunca se cruzan.Since these lines are parallel, they never intersect.
c. to meet
La avenida Hidalgo se cruza con Federalismo a cinco kilómetros al norte.Hidalgo Avenue meets Federalismo five kilometers to the north.
10. (to move past)
a. to pass
Enrique se cruzó con su papá en el estacionamiento sin darse cuenta.Enrique passed his dad in the parking lot without noticing.
b. to pass each other
Un crucero que iba saliendo se cruzó con uno que venía llegando.A cruise ship on its way out and another on its way in passed each other.
a. to see each other
Las compañeras se cruzaron en el supermercado pero no tuvieron tiempo de platicar.The coworkers saw each other in the supermarket, but they didn't have time to talk.
b. to bump into
Me crucé con Rebeca en el metro esta mañana rumbo al trabajo.I bumped into Rebeca in the subway this morning on my way to work.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
12. (to obstruct)
a. to pull out in front of
Cuando sacaba el carro de la cochera, se me cruzó un niño en patineta.As I was backing the car out of the garage, a boy on a skateboard pulled out in front of me.
b. to cut off
Se me cruzó un Hummer y casi le pegué por atrás.A Hummer cut me off and I almost rear-ended it.
atravesar(
ah
-
trah
-
beh
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to cross
Atravesaron las montañas al amparo de la noche.They crossed the mountains under cover of night.
Siempre debes mirar en ambas direcciones antes de atravesar la carretera.You should always look both ways before crossing the highway.
b. to go through
La Avenida Santa Fe atraviesa toda la ciudad de Buenos Aires.Santa Fe Avenue goes through the whole of Buenos Aires.
a. to go through
¡Chin! Creo que el clavo atravesó la tabla.Oops! I think the nail went through the board.
b. to pierce
La espada no logró atravesar la armadura del caballero.The sword didn't manage to pierce the knight's armor.
a. to go through
Estamos atravesando momentos complejos en mi país.We're going through complex times in my country.
b. to experience
Has atravesado dificultades que poca gente podrá entender.You've experienced difficulties that few people will be able to understand.
4. (to place)
a. to put across
Atravesaron una cuerda en el camino para que la gente tuviera que pararse y pagarles para seguir manejando.They put a rope across the road so people would have to stop and pay them to continue driving.
atravesarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to cross in front of
Ayer se me atravesó un peatón y por poquito no le di con la moto.Yesterday a pedestrian crossed in front of me and I almost hit him with my motorbike.
6. (to occur)
a. to arise
A menos que se nos atraviese algún inconveniente, firmamos el trato mañana.Unless some problem arises, we sign the deal tomorrow.
7. (to stick)
a. to butt into (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Ya deja de atravesarte en las conversaciones de los demás.Stop butting into other people's conversations.
9. (to annoy)
a. to rub the wrong way (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
El nuevo jefe se nos atravesó a todos desde su primer día en la oficina.The new boss has rubbed us all the wrong way since his first day in the office.
