franquear (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Franquear is a verb in Spanish.

Phonetic Transcription

/fɾaŋˈkwe.aɾ/

Translation Options into English

• To cross
• To grant (a waiver)
• To bypass
• To clear (customs)
• To allow passage

Meaning and Usage

Franquear generally means to cross over or to allow passage through a barrier, whether it's physical like a border or metaphorical like a bureaucracy. It is frequently used in contexts relating to travel, customs (franquear aduanas), or in legal language where permissions and exceptions are discussed. The word is used more in written contexts, particularly in legal or administrative documents, but is not uncommon in spoken Spanish as well.

Example Sentences

1. Es necesario franquear la frontera para llegar a la otra parte del país.
   It is necessary to cross the border to get to the other side of the country.

2. El agente de aduanas decidió franquear los productos sin ningún problema.
   The customs agent decided to clear the products without any issues.

3. Para franquear las cargas, debes cumplir con todos los requisitos legales.
   To allow the shipments, you must meet all the legal requirements.

Idiomatic Expressions

Franquear is not commonly found in many idiomatic expressions, but it does appear in certain phrases related to clearance and permission.

1. Franquear el umbral
   To cross the threshold
   Ejemplo: Al franquear el umbral de la casa, sentí una oleada de emoción.
   Upon crossing the threshold of the house, I felt a wave of emotion.

2. Franquear las fronteras
   To cross borders
   Ejemplo: El deseo de libertad a menudo lleva a las personas a franquear las fronteras.
   The desire for freedom often leads people to cross borders.

3. Franquear la burocracia
   To bypass bureaucracy
   Ejemplo: Necesitamos encontrar una forma de franquear la burocracia para que el proyecto avance.
   We need to find a way to bypass bureaucracy so the project can move forward.

Etymology

The word franquear comes from the Latin term francare, which means "to free" or "to make free." It also has connections to the French word franchir, which carries a similar meaning of "to clear" or "to cross over."

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Cruzar - Pasar - Superar - Atravesar

Antonyms: - Obstruir - Impedir - Bloquear

This comprehensive overview provides a detailed understanding of the term franquear in Spanish, its meanings, uses, and context within the language.