esquina

Esquina is a masculine noun used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote the point where two lines or surfaces meet. In everyday language it most commonly refers to the corner of a street, the exterior angle formed where two roads intersect, or the corner of a building. The word can also be used more broadly to describe a physical corner of a room or object.

In practical usage, esquina appears in phrases such as “doblar en la esquina” (turn at the corner), “la tienda está en la esquina” (the shop is on the corner), and “en la esquina de la calle” (at the street corner). It can also be employed metaphorically to mean a crucial or strategic point in a situation, as in expressions like “en la esquina del barrio” to evoke a locality or hub of activity.

Linguistically, esquina is shared by Spanish and Portuguese, with cognates in related Romance languages. A related term in Spanish for an internal or recessed corner is rincón, which is used more for interior corners of a room or space, while esquina typically refers to the outside corner or street corner. In urban and architectural contexts, the concept of la esquina can influence design, traffic planning, and the placement of signs and storefronts.

Beyond its literal meaning, esquina also appears in cultural and commercial usage, where many businesses or venues adopt the name Esquina or La Esquina to evoke a sense of place or local gathering spots.