calle

Calle is the Spanish word for street. It functions as a generic term for a public road in Spain and in most Spanish-speaking countries, and it appears in the names and addresses of urban streets. In everyday use, calle is combined with descriptors or proper nouns to form street names, for example Calle Mayor, Calle Real, or Calle Nueva. In the address system, calle is often abbreviated as “C.” in postal formats.

Calle is also a common element in toponymy, where it can appear as part of district names or as a standalone place-name in some cities. It can denote a main thoroughfare or a residential street, and it is closely associated with urban navigation and planning.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin callis or calī̆s meaning “path” or “way,” passing into Old Spanish and then modern Spanish as calle. The word has cognates in other Romance languages and shares its sense with the everyday English word “street.”

Surname: Calle functions as a surname in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities. It is found among people in various professions, including sports, arts, and academia, and may appear in genealogical records and contemporary biographical sources.

See also: Callejón, a Spanish term for a narrow alley, and other toponymic compounds that begin with Calle.