cruza

Cruza is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese with several related meanings tied to crossing or crossing-breeding. In Spanish, cruza is the third-person singular present indicative form of the verb cruzar, meaning “he/she crosses.” It is also the form used for the formal you in some regional usages (usted cruza). Additionally, as the affirmative informal tú command, cruza (cruza la calle) is used to tell someone to cross.

As a noun in Spanish, cruza can refer to a cross or to a crossbreed, particularly in contexts involving breeding or genetics. For example, a cruza between two animal or plant varieties denotes the offspring or the result of crossing those varieties.

Etymologically, cruza derives from cruz, the Spanish word for cross, itself from the Latin crux. The verb cruzar is formed by adding the -ar infinitive ending to the root cruz-, yielding forms such as cruzo, cruzas, cruza, and cruzamos.

In other languages, similar forms exist with related meaning. In Portuguese, cruzar yields cruza in the third-person present, and the term can appear in similar breeding or crossing contexts, though usage as a standalone noun is less common than in Spanish. The word is also associated with geographical names and cultural phrases in various regions, where it may appear in compound forms or toponymy.

See also: cruzar, cruce, crux.