Studio del Sol Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 pPassing on what a friend sent. Wish I'd had it when I drove down here. Mexican Road Signs and their Translations Topes a 100mTranslation: Speed bumps in 100 meters. What it really means: We seriously, passionately want you to drive slowly here, and we've installed a line of metal half spheres or a line of raised asphalt across the road to prove it. If you don't slow down now, you certainly will after you vault the topes — to rearrange your internal organs and assess the damage to your car's undercarriage. This warning is just a courtesy; don't count on one next time. Reductor de velocidad Reductor de velocidadTranslation: Speed reducer What it really means: This is a close relative of topes, usually encountered on open road and sometimes more brightly marked; the same message applies. Often shortened to reductor, or simply to an icon on a yellow diamond-shaped sign showing a car mounting what appears to be a small hill. Poblado proximoTranslation: Town (coming up) next What it really means: Apply brakes now; you are entering a gauntlet of topes. The irony is that you can become so fixated on the asphalt topography that you might not notice the pedestrian stepping into the road. Cruce de peatones Translation: Pedestrian crossing What it really means: A concrete island in your immediate future will launch your car to Neptune if you don't come to a full stop before easing over it. Merely slowing to 20 kmph won't spare you. Zona de descanso or Paradero de descansoTranslation: Rest zone or Rest stop What it really means: There is a paved wide spot up ahead where you can stop to look at a map, retrieve a fresh bottle of water out of the cooler, or get out of the way of that 20-foot-high tomato truck that's been riding your bumper. Just don't expect restrooms, picnic tables or pay phones. This is not a U.S.-style rest stop, but what we know as a turnout. Desviación Translation: Detour What it really means: You are about to be funneled onto a road that isn't on your map, through the side streets of a town you didn't know existed. If fortune is smiling upon you, a stream of cars to lead you through the great unknown and eventually back to the highway. The less fortunate will eventually reach an unsigned "T" intersection with no clue which way to turn and throw themselves on the mercy of obliging locals who don't speak a word of English. Permite rebasar; utilice acotamientoTranslation: Allow passing; use the shoulder What it really means: If a car has been following 2 feet behind you, get the heck over to the right and let it pass, and you might all make it to your destinations. Otherwise you're just inviting the tailgater to barrel past you on a curve or a hill. (To be fair, these signs tend to be on recently upgraded roads with paved shoulders almost as wide as the driving lanes.) Puesto de control militar Translation: Military checkpoint What it really means: You're about to encounter some polite young men bearing mean-looking rifles who might (rarely) just wave you through, (usually) ask you where you have come from (de donde viene) and where you are going (adonde va), or (even more rarely) search your luggage for drugs or firearms. Or not: Sometimes the barricades are unmanned, but you'll still need to slow down. RetornoTranslation: Return What it really means: And you thought you couldn't get from here to there because there was nowhere to make a left turn into the place you wanted to go? Just make a U-turn right here. Alternatively: You're in luck; you just realized you missed your turn a kilometer or so back, but now you have a second chance. Glorieta Translation: Traffic circle What it really means: You're about to drive around and around in an attempt to figure out where to exit; if you attempt it the first time around, you'll either have to peel off suddenly from the wrong lane and run afoul of cars driven by people who know where they're going, or end up on the wrong street, driving miles out of your way before you find a retorno. (You'll rarely, if ever, see a sign with the word "glorieta," just a yellow diamond with three black arrows curved into a circle.) Some signs elicit a "huh?" no matter how well-versed in Spanish you are. Conceda cambio de lucesTranslation: Grant change of lights What it really means: Dim your headlights when there's oncoming traffic. The trick is to wait until the oncoming car is within full glare before turning down the wattage; the other driver rarely reciprocates unless he or she actually sees you do it. But be careful what you wish for: An alarming number of cars roam Mexico's roadway without functioning low beams. Hitting the dimmer means they disappear into the blackness. No deje piedras sobre el pavimentoTranslation: Don't leave rocks on the pavement What it really means: Don't leave rocks on the pavement — the question is who would put rocks on the road in the first place. Turns out, drivers who have to change a tire and brace their car with a handy rock, or who stack rocks in the road to warn traffic of a hazard ahead, have a disconcerting habit of driving away afterward and leaving the rocks to attack some other hapless driver's vehicle. Termina seguro del usuario Translation: End the user's security What it really means: I have no idea. I've only seen it a few times, but it sounds ominous. Does it mean you've unknowingly passed through a secured area of some sort? Does it mean abandon hope, all ye who enter here? Readers, please chime in if you have a clue. Maneje con precaución — tu familia te espera Translation: Drive with precaution — your family is waiting for you Menor velocidad, mayor seguridadTranslation: Less speed, more safety Despues de accidente nada es igualTranslation: After an accident, nothing is the same Use cinturón, salve la vidaTranslation: Use the seat belt, save a life Más vale tarde que nunca Translation: Better late than never What they all really mean: Do what we tell you or you will surely be killed, or at the very least seriously maimed. these mean just what they say. No maltrate las señales: Don't mistreat (i.e., deface) the signs Obedezca las señales: Obey the signs No maneje cansada: Don't drive tired Maneje con precaución: Drive carefully Modere su velocidad: Moderate your speed (i.e., slow down) Esta carretera/este camino no es de alta velocidad: This highway/this road is not for high speed Respete el limite de velocidad: Respect the speed limit Carril izquierdo es solo rebasar: Left lane for passing only No se estacione en la curva: No parking in the curve No obstruya el crucero: Don't block the crossing Encienda sus luces: Turn on your lights Prepare su cuota: Prepare your toll Transito lento carril derecho: Slow traffic stay in right lane Disminuya su velocidad con pavimento mojado: Reduce your speed when pavement is wet El peatón es primero: The pedestrian comes first Un camino limpio es más seguro: A clean road is safer words and phrases that commonly appear on road signs Autopista: Expressway, turnpike Autopista de cuota: Toll highway Basura: Garbage Camino: Road Camiones: Trucks Carretera: Highway Carril: Lane Caseta de cobro: Toll booth Ceda el paso: Yield Cuota: Toll Derecho/Izquierdo: Right/Left Derrumbes: Landslides/rockslides Despacio/lento: Slow Ganado: Cattle Niebla/Lluvia: Fog/rain Entrada: Entrance Entronque: Intersection Ferrocarril: Train Frene: Brake Grava suelta: Loose gravel Ingreso: Entrance Mojado: Wet Libre: Free; no toll No parar: No stopping No tire basura: Don't throw trash No rebase: No passing Parada: Stop (as in bus or shuttle) Pendiente prolongada: Long steep incline/descent Principia: Begin Puente: Bridge Salida: Exit Sanitarios: Bathrooms Semáforo: Traffic light Tramo en reparación: Section of road under repair Tránsito: Traffic Un solo carril: Single lane (ahead) Vibradores: Multiple speed bumps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Well done! Somebody has a great sense of humour! Thanks for the laugh! derecho...I believe actually means go straight ahead derecha...right izquierdo...left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bournemouth Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Well done! Somebody has a great sense of humour! Thanks for the laugh! derecho...I believe actually means go straight ahead derecha...right izquierdo...left Actually left as in turn left is izquierda. That's the only way I can remember that derecho is straight on because left and right both have feminine endings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Thanks for the correction Bournemouth...that's a great way to remember it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedros Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 derecho means right or straight depending how it is used. If it is an adjective modifying a masculine noun (like carril) derecha becomes derecho. Well done! Somebody has a great sense of humour! Thanks for the laugh! derecho...I believe actually means go straight ahead derecha...right izquierdo...left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slobo Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Termina seguro del usuario Translation: End the user's security What it really means: I have no idea. I've only seen it a few times, but it sounds ominous. Does it mean you've unknowingly passed through a secured area of some sort? Does it mean abandon hope, all ye who enter here? Readers, please chime in if you have a clue. This is notification that the cuota/toll road you have been on is ending- therefore the insurance that you pay for through your toll payments has ended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjkveton Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 deleted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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