VIA is a Latin word meaning 'by way of' and is commonly used in English to refer to a route or means of transportation. The two crossword solutions THRU and THRO are both four letter words that mean the same thing as VIA, but are more informal and colloquial. THRU is an American English spelling, while THRO is a British English spelling. Both words can be used to describe a route or means of transportation, and are often used interchangeably with VIA.