puerto
nounCEFR B2
What does “puerto” mean in English?
harbour, port — a sheltered coastal area for ships; also a mountain pass
harbour, port — a sheltered coastal area for ships; also a mountain pass (puerto deportivo; puerto de contenedores)
Example sentences
El puerto de Valparaíso es uno de los principales puntos de entrada de mercancías en América del Sur.
The port of Valparaíso is one of the main entry points for goods in South America.
El ciclista coronó el puerto del Tourmalet con una ventaja de tres minutos sobre el pelotón.
The cyclist crested the Tourmalet mountain pass with a three-minute advantage over the peloton.
Tras meses de difíciles negociaciones, el acuerdo llegó finalmente a buen puerto.
After months of difficult negotiations, the agreement finally came to a successful conclusion.
How to use it
El puerto (noun, masculine) has two main meanings: (1) harbour/port — a coastal or riverside docking area for ships (puerto comercial/deportivo/fluvial), and (2) mountain pass — a gap between peaks used as a route (puerto de montaña; pasar el puerto). Both meanings are active at B2 level. Key collocations: puerto de contenedores; zarpar del puerto; llegar a puerto; puerto libre (free port). Figuratively, llegar a buen puerto means 'to end successfully'.
Common mistake
Don't confuse puerto (harbour/pass) with puerta (door/gate) — they are distinct words. Puerto deportivo = marina (not fishing or commercial). 'Free port' = puerto libre or zona franca. The mountain pass meaning is particularly common in Spanish sports journalism (cycling) — essential for reading El País/Marca at B2.