traviesa

Traviesa is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective travieso, and is used to describe someone or something that is mischievous, playful, or troublesome. It characterizes behavior rather than a fixed trait, and its tone can be affectionate or pejorative depending on context. The masculine form travieso and the feminine traviesa agree with the gender of the noun they modify, as in una niña traviesa or un perro travieso.

In technical contexts, traviesa is also a noun meaning a railway sleeper, the rectangular block that lies beneath rail tracks to keep them spaced and to support the load of trains. Traviesas can be made of wood, concrete, or other materials, and are laid at regular intervals along the track to maintain gauge and distribute forces.

Beyond language and railways, traviesa appears primarily in idiomatic usage and literature as a descriptor of someone who engages in playful or cheeky acts. The related noun travesura denotes a prank or mischievous act, and is often used to describe the behavior of children or animals.