cruzan

Cruzán is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb cruzar, which means “to cross.” It is used with subjects such as ellos or ellas, and with ustedes in many dialects. For example, in a sentence like Ellos cruzan la calle, the meaning is “They cross the street.”

Etymology and origins: The verb cruzar derives from the Latin word crux, crucis (cross), evolving through Old Spanish to its current form. The basic sense is moving from one side to another by passing over a barrier such as a street, river, or boundary.

Usage and nuance: Cruzan is commonly employed to describe crossing physical obstacles, such as cruzan la frontera (they cross the border) or cruzan el río (they cross the river). It also appears in idiomatic expressions, such as cruzar los dedos (to cross one’s fingers), where the verb retains the core notion of linking or bridging from one side to another. The form is used with a variety of direct objects and can convey rapid, intentional, or routine crossing activities depending on context.

Grammar notes: In present tense conjugation of cruzar, cruzan corresponds to the third-person plural; the corresponding forms for other persons are cruzo, cruzas, cruza, cruzamos, and cruzáis (Spain) or cruzan (Latin American usage for ustedes). While cruzan is standard in Latin American Spanish and much of written Spanish, Spain commonly uses vosotros cruzáis.

See also: cruzar, cruce, cruce de caminos.