What Does "Col." Mean in Mexican Addresses?

Col. (or Colonia) in a Mexican address stands for neighborhood or district — a officially designated subdivision within a municipality (municipio).

Address Format Example

Juan Pérez López
Calle Reforma 145
Col. Polanco
Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo
Ciudad de México, 11560
MÉXICO

Key Points

• Mexico City has 16 alcaldías (boroughs), each containing dozens of colonias (e.g., Roma, Condesa, Del Valle, Narvarte).
• Other cities use same system: Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, etc.
• Colonia names are essential for mail delivery, navigation, and official documents.
• Not to be confused with "colonia" in the US border context (informal settlements) — in Mexico it's a standard administrative term.

Related Terms

• Fracc. / Fraccionamiento: Planned subdivision (often gated).
• Unidad Habitacional: Housing complex.
• Pueblo / Barrio: Older, often historic neighborhoods.