Navigating a Spanish-speaking country becomes significantly easier and more enjoyable when you know how to discuss transportation. Whether you’re asking for directions to the nearest estación de metro (subway station) or figuring out the horario (schedule) for the autobús (bus), a solid grasp of transportation vocabulary in Spanish is indispensable. This guide will equip you with the essential words and phrases you need to confidently navigate your travels in Spanish-speaking regions, making your journey smoother and richer.
Modes of Transportation in Spanish
Understanding the names for different modes of transport is your first step. From air travel to local commutes, this section breaks down the key vocabulary for various ways to get around in Spanish.
1. Avión – Airplane
The word for airplane in Spanish is avión. Air travel is a common way to reach Spanish-speaking countries, and knowing this word is fundamental for discussing flights and airports.
2. Tren – Train
Tren translates to train in Spanish. Interestingly, the Spanish word for “railroad” is ferrocarril, derived from ferrum (iron) and carril (track), highlighting the iron rails trains run on.
3. Auto / Coche / Carro – Car/Automobile
When it comes to saying “car” in Spanish, you have options: auto, coche, and carro. These words, while all meaning car, have interesting origins and regional preferences.
- Auto, short for automóvil, has Greek and Latin roots meaning “self-movable.”
- Coche comes from Hungarian, originally referring to a four-wheeled wagon.
- Carro derives from Latin, initially meaning a two-wheeled chariot, and can also mean “wagon.”
In Spain, coche is the standard word for “car,” while auto is understood but less common, and carro often means “cart.” In Latin America, carro is generally the most common term for “car,” and coche might be understood as “stroller” in some regions. Auto is generally understood across Latin America.
4. Autobús / Autocar – Bus
The Spanish word for “bus” is autobús. Another term, autocar, is also used, often referring to a coach bus or long-distance bus. It’s worth noting that the slang for “bus” varies widely across Spanish-speaking countries.
5. Taxi – Taxi
Just like in English, taxi is the word for taxi in Spanish. In Spain, keep an eye out for taxis displaying a green light, indicating they are libres (available). A red light means ocupados (busy).
6. Camión / Camioneta – Truck
Camión refers to a standard truck or large rig. Camioneta usually indicates a pick-up truck or a smaller, light truck.
7. Motocicleta / Moto – Motorcycle/Motorbike
For motorcycle, you can use either motocicleta or moto. Moto is simply a shortened, more common version of motocicleta.
8. Bicicleta / Bici – Bicycle/Bike
Similar to motorcycle, bicycle can be bicicleta or bici. Bici is the abbreviated and more frequently used form, especially among younger speakers.
9. Barco / Bote – Boat
When distinguishing between boats in Spanish, barco refers to a larger boat or ship, while bote is generally used for smaller boats.
10. Helicóptero – Helicopter
The word for helicopter is helicóptero. Following a similar pattern, “heliport” in Spanish is helipuerto, combining heli- and puerto (port).
11. Ambulancia – Ambulance
Ambulancia is the Spanish word for ambulance, easily recognizable and crucial vocabulary for emergencies.
12. Barco de vela – Sailboat
Barco de vela literally translates to “boat of sail” and is the term for sailboat. While not a primary mode of daily transportation, it’s good to know for nautical contexts.
13. Cohete – Rocket
Cohete means rocket in Spanish. Interestingly, in its plural form, cohetes can also mean “fireworks.”
14. Transbordador espacial – Space Shuttle
For “space shuttle,” the Spanish term is transbordador espacial. While perhaps not everyday vocabulary, it’s useful for broader discussions about transportation and space.
15. Aerodeslizador – Hovercraft
The term for hovercraft in Spanish is aerodeslizador. This word describes a vehicle that glides on air.
16. Metro – Subway
Metro is the standard Spanish word for subway. However, an interesting exception is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the subway system is called Subte, a shortened version of subterráneo (underground).
17. Tranvía – Tram/Streetcar
Tranvía is the Spanish word for tram or streetcar, common in many cities for urban transportation.
Navigating Public Transportation in Spanish
Public transportation is vital for getting around cities and towns efficiently. Mastering this vocabulary will significantly enhance your ability to use public transit in Spanish-speaking areas.
18. Billete – Ticket/Fare
Billete is the general word for ticket or fare in Spanish. Depending on the Latin American country, you might also hear pasaje, tiquete, or boleto used for tickets.
19. Oficina de información – Information Center
An oficina de información is an information center. You might also see oficina de atención al viajero, which translates to “traveler information center,” for travel-specific inquiries.
20. Salida / Llegada – Departure/Arrival
Salida means departure, and llegada means arrival. These words come from the verbs salir (to leave) and llegar (to arrive). You’ll see these terms frequently in stations and airports.
21. Horario – Schedule
Horario refers to the schedule or timetable. Checking the horario is essential for planning your journeys on public transport.
22. Andén – Platform/Track
Andén can have different meanings, but in transportation contexts, it means platform or track. For example, El tren sale del andén 5 means “The train leaves from track 5.”
23. Parada – Stop (Bus/Train/Tram/Metro)
Parada is the word for a stop for buses, trains, trams, and metros. Knowing where your parada is will help you navigate public transport systems effectively.
24. Vía – Train Track
Vía specifically means train track. This term is useful when discussing train routes and infrastructure.
25. Mapa – Map
Mapa is the Spanish word for map. Although it appears feminine, mapa is masculine (el mapa) because it’s short for el mapamundi (world map), which is masculine.
26. Viaje – Trip/Journey
Viaje means trip or journey. The verb form, viajar, means “to travel.” This is a fundamental word for discussing travel experiences.
27. Pasajero – Passenger
Pasajero refers to a passenger. This is a common term you’ll encounter in all forms of transportation.
28. Conductor – Driver
Conductor means driver in Spanish. Be aware of a false friend here: the English “conductor” (for a train or orchestra) is revisor (train) or director de orquesta (orchestra) in Spanish.
29. Equipaje – Baggage
Equipaje is the word for baggage. “Hand baggage” is equipaje de mano. This term is crucial for air and train travel.
30. Clase – Class
Clase refers to class, as in travel class. When buying tickets, you might choose primera clase (first class), segunda clase (second class), clase turista (economy class), or clase ejecutiva/preferente (business class).
31. Línea – Line/Route
Línea means line or route, important for buses, subways, and trains, helping you identify the correct transportation path.
32. Vagón – Carriage/Coach (Train)
Vagón refers to a carriage or coach of a train. Note another false friend: the English “wagon” is carro in Spanish.
33. Ventanilla / Pasillo – Window Seat/Aisle Seat
When booking seats, ventanilla means window seat, and pasillo means aisle seat. Ventanilla literally means “small window.”
34. Coger / Tomar el autobús – Catch/Take the Bus
Coger or tomar el autobús means to catch or take the bus. Be cautious: coger can have a vulgar meaning in some South American countries, where tomar is generally safer to use.
35. Subir / Bajar – Get On/Get Off
Subir means to get on, and bajar means to get off. These versatile verbs are used for nearly all modes of transport.
36. Conducir / Manejar – To Drive
Conducir and manejar both mean “to drive.” Conducir is more common in Spain, while manejar is predominantly used in Latin America.
37. Estación de ferrocarril – Train Station
Estación de ferrocarril is the term for train station, combining estación (station) and ferrocarril (railroad).
38. Estación de metro – Subway Station
Estación de metro means subway station, a straightforward combination of estación and metro.
39. Taquilla – Ticket Office
Taquilla refers to the ticket office, the place where you buy your billetes.
Essential Airport Vocabulary in Spanish
For international travel, airports are often your first and last point of contact in a Spanish-speaking country. Knowing airport-specific vocabulary can make your travel experience much smoother.
40. Aeropuerto – Airport
Aeropuerto is the Spanish word for airport. You might need to tell your taxi driver, Por favor, lléveme al aeropuerto (Please, take me to the airport).
41. Puerta – Gate
Puerta means gate at an airport. Knowing your puerta number is essential for boarding your flight.
42. Terminal – Terminal
Terminal is the same in Spanish as in English, referring to the airport terminal.
43. Recogida de equipaje – Baggage Claim
Recogida de equipaje is baggage claim, where you retrieve your luggage after a flight.
44. Embarque / Embarcar – Boarding/To Board
Embarque is boarding, and embarcar means to board. These terms are crucial for understanding the flight process.
45. Tarjeta de embarque – Boarding Pass
Tarjeta de embarque is your boarding pass, necessary to board your flight.
46. Sala de embarque – Boarding Lounge
Sala de embarque is the boarding lounge, where you wait before boarding your flight.
47. Despegar / Aterrizar – To Take Off/To Land
Despegar means to take off (plane), and aterrizar means to land. These are essential verbs for discussing flight stages.
48. Billete de avión – Plane Ticket
Billete de avión specifically means plane ticket, differentiating it from other types of tickets.
49. Piloto – Pilot
Piloto is the word for pilot, the person who flies the airplane.
50. Auxiliar de vuelo – Flight Attendant
Auxiliar de vuelo is the modern term for flight attendant. Historically, azafata (stewardess) was used, but auxiliar de vuelo is now preferred as a gender-neutral term.
51. Retraso – Delay
Retraso means delay, an unfortunately common term in air travel.
52. Aerolínea – Airline
Aerolínea is the Spanish word for airline, referring to the company operating the flights.
Useful Spanish Phrases for Transportation
Knowing individual words is helpful, but combining them into phrases is essential for practical communication. Here are some useful expressions to help you get information and directions while using Transportation In Spanish.
53. ¿A qué hora sale / llega…? – What time does … depart/arrive?
Use this question to ask about departure and arrival times for trains, buses, subways, and streetcars. For example: ¿A qué hora llega el siguiente autobús? (What time does the next bus arrive?)
54. ¿A qué hora aterriza / despega…? – What time does … take off/land?
Use these phrases specifically for airplanes. For example: ¿A qué hora aterriza tu avión? (What time does your plane land?)
55. ¿Cuánto tiempo dura el viaje? – How long does the journey take?
This question is useful for finding out the duration of a trip.
56. ¿Cuál es la próxima parada? – What is the next stop?
Use this question on public transport to know your upcoming stop.
57. ¿Con qué autobús / tren / metro puedo llegar a…? – Which bus/train/subway line can I take to get to…?
This phrase helps you ask for directions using public transport.
58. ¿Es este el autobús / tren / metro que llega a…? – Is this the bus/train/subway that goes to…?
Use this to confirm if you are on the correct vehicle to reach your destination.
59. ¿Cuánto cuesta el billete? – How much is the ticket?
A fundamental question for purchasing tickets for any mode of transport.
60. ¿Dónde puedo comprar un billete? – Where can I buy a ticket?
Use this to ask for ticket purchasing locations, such as ticket offices or machines.
This vocabulary and these phrases provide a strong foundation for navigating transportation in Spanish-speaking countries. Continue to expand your vocabulary and practice these terms to enhance your travel experiences. To further your Spanish learning, consider exploring resources like FluentU, which offers immersive language learning through authentic videos.
Happy travels, and enjoy your journeys using your new Spanish transportation vocabulary!
