If you travel to a large Brazilian city, chances are you’re going to have to face traffic. So let’s take a look at some vocabulary related to traffic.

Photo: Epsos.de

estrada – highway

trânsito – traffic

tráfego – traffic

engarrafamento – traffic jam

congestionamento – bottleneck, traffic, congestion

pedágio – toll

pista – lane

interditado – closed

ambos sentidos – both directions

dirigir – to drive

trafegar – to drive

tombar – to be knocked over

Examples:

Estou preso no trânsito. I’m stuck in traffic.

A Estrada Grajaú-Jacarepaguá está interditada em ambos os sentidos devido à incêndio em veículo. The Grajaú-Jacarepaguá highway is closed in both directions due to a vehicle fire.

O caminhão tombou na estrada. The truck was knocked over on the highway.