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atraviesar

to cross

verb ah-trah-byeh-SAHR Rare
Travel & Places Movement

Also means

to go through

Usage Note

Atraviesar is a non-standard spelling; the standard infinitive is atravesar, a stem-changing verb (e→ie): atravieso, atraviesas. Beyond physical crossing (atravesar la calle) it describes going through difficult experiences: atravesar una crisis (to go through a crisis). The figurative use is extremely common in journalism and literary Spanish.

Examples

"Tuvieron que atravesar el desierto a pie."

Natural Translation

They had to cross the desert on foot.

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