estrada

Estrada is a noun in Portuguese that refers to a road, highway, or any route by which people, vehicles, or goods travel. In Portugal, Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking communities, the term designates public roads ranging from rural paths to major arteries. The word is also used in broader senses to indicate a route or way forward, not only a physical road but a chosen path or course of action in metaphorical contexts.

Etymology and related terms: Estrada comes from Latin strata, meaning a paved way, and entered Portuguese through historical developments of language and infrastructure. It is related to other words describing movement and transportation in Romance languages, though each language has its own common terms for specific types of roads or pathways.

Usage and onomastics: Beyond its ordinary meaning, estrada appears as a surname in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking regions, and as a place-name element in various locations associated with historical roads or settlements. As a common linguistic unit, it features in street signs, maps, and everyday speech to describe travel routes and directions.

See also: Calçada (paved road) and via (Latin-based terms for road or way).