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April 8, 2021 by Rafael Parra Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

100+ Words and Phrases Related to Transportation in Spanish

Let’s learn about transportation in Spanish with a comprehensive guide that’s suitable for all ages and Spanish levels! 

If you’re learning the language, vocabulary and phrases about transportation in Spanish are key to learn and know by heart. The same goes for any language! When I was living abroad in Belgium, I took a six-month crash course in French that saved my hide when I heard I was on the wrong train. 

Keep reading to get the essential knowledge you need to travel in Spanish!

Why Learn Vocabulary Related to Transportation in Spanish?

Knowing vocabulary and phrases about transportation in Spanish is only half the battle. Learning the general transportation rules for each country is also important! If you travel to a new country, I strongly recommend talking to a local about transportation rules and cultural differences. 

Did you know that in Guatemala, jaywalking is common and accepted? Drivers are taught to expect jaywalkers, and most of the time it’s not frowned upon—unless you do it on a highway. Imagine my surprise when I jaywalked like it was the most normal thing in the world, only for my foreign friends to be taken aback by my “rudeness.” That’s why it’s important to understand and follow foreign transportation customs, make sure to ask around and be informed.

Transportation in Spanish

Modes of Transportation in Spanish

El carro — car

El coche — car

El auto — car

La motocicleta — motorcycle

El bus — bus

El tranvía — tram

El tren — train

El camión — truck

El avión — plane

La avioneta — light aircraft

El jet — jet

El taxi — taxi

El uber — uber

El barco — boat

La lancha — boat

La canoa — canoe

El ferry — ferry

La moto de agua — jet ski

El metro — subway

La bicicleta — bicycle

La patineta — skateboard

Los patines — skates

El monopatín — scooter

El monociclo — unicycle

El paracaídas — parachute

El parapente — paragliding

El velero — sailboat

El helicóptero — helicopter

La limosina — limousine

El globo aerostático — hot air balloon

El montacargas — forklift

El crucero — cruise ship

El cohete espacial — rocket

El caballo — horse

La mula — mule

El burro — donkey

El bus escolar — school bus

Spanish Transportation Verbs

Ir a pie — go on foot

Caminar — walk

Correr — run

Trotar — jog

Manejar — drive

Conducir  — drive

Pagar el pasaje — pay the fare

Volar — fly

Comprar un boleto — buy a ticket

Perderse — getting lost

Encontrar el camino — find your way

Encontrar la dirección — find the address

Navegar — to sail

Moverse — to move

Viajar — to travel

Montar — to ride

Cabalgar — to horse ride 

3 Verb Phrases to Know

1. Ir en

The phrase ir en is useful for talking about transportation in Spanish. It translates to “go by” and refers to going via a certain mode of transportation. You can use this phrase as follows:

Ir en carro — go by car

Ir en moto — go by motorcycle

Ir en taxi — go by cab

Ir en avión — go by plane

2. Tomar el/la

Similarly to the verb phrase ir en, the phrase tomar el/la can be used to say “take the”. Let’s look at some examples so you can talk about transportation in Spanish.

Tomar el autobús — taking the bus

Tomar el tren — taking the train

Tomar la siguiente salida — taking the next exit

Tomar la ruta alterna — taking the alternate route

3. Perder el/la

Use this verb phrase when tragedy strikes and you miss your flight/train/cab. Hopefully you won’t need to use this phrase, but it will certainly help if you have to.

Perder el vuelo — missing the flight

Perder el tren — missing the train

Perder el boleto — losing the ticket

Perder el taxi — missing the cab

More Spanish Transportation Nouns

El aeropuerto — airport

La puerta — gate

La parada de tren — train stop

La parada de bus — bus stop

La ciclovía — bike lane

El camino — road

La calle — street

El semáforo — stoplight

Las señales de tránsito — traffic signs

El destino — destination

La ruta — route

El pasaje — fare

El boleto — ticket

El ticket — ticket

El billete — ticket

El pidevias — turn signal

El GPS — GPS

La gasolina — gasoline

Salida — exit

El peaje — toll road

La carretera — highway

Dirección — address

Chicken Buses

Refurbished and repainted school buses are one of the cultural trademarks of many Latin American countries. Commonly known as “chicken buses,” these beautiful vehicles have many different names depending on the country you find them. 

Here are some of the names you might encounter. Keep in mind that some of these, while not vulgar, are colloquial and might be inappropriate in a formal setting. Make sure to ask around and learn before using them, or stick to the traditional autobús if you’re not sure. 

If you pay close attention, you’ll notice how countries that are next to each other tend to have similar or the same names for these buses.

CountryNames
ArgentinaColectivo, bondi, omnibus, micro
BoliviaAutocar, flota, omnibus, colectivo, micro, mini
ChileMicro, liebre, bus, taxibus, acordeón
ColombiaAutobús, microbús, chiva, flota, buseta
Costa RicaBus, buseta, chivilla, cazadora, lata
CubaGüagüa, omnibus
EcuadorBus, buseta, colectivo
El SalvadorMicrobus, bus, chuzón
EspañaAutobús, camioneta, micro
GuatemalaCamioneta, bus, autobús, burra
HondurasBus, autobús
MéxicoCamión, micro, pesero, burra
NicaraguaBus, camioneta, ruta, microbus
PanamáBus, chiva, autobús
ParaguayMicro, colectivo, omnibus
UruguayOmnibus, bote, bondi
VenezuelaAutobús, bus, buseta, camioneta

Learn to Move Around!

By learning about transportation in Spanish, you’ll not only greatly expand your vocabulary, but also learn useful information that will make traveling safer and easier. Being able to travel as freely as we can today is a privilege that facilitates commerce, communication, and intercultural interactions all around the world. Sharing and learning with people from different cultures is a big part of what Homeschool Spanish Academy is all about! 

We love to meet people from different countries and learn all about their cultures. We love the small differences in vocabulary when talking about transportation in Spanish (or any topic). To practice vocabulary and pronunciation, take a free trial class with one of our certified Spanish teachers. Whether you’re interested in learning about transportation in Spanish or exploring another topic, we’re glad to teach you all you want to know!

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Rafael Parra
Rafael Parra
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
A native Spanish speaker from Guatemala, I'm a psychology student, creative developer, and aspiring polymath who's always learning new things and improving as a person. I'm a nerd when it comes to language, education, and videogames. My goal is to practice all these disciplines in unison and make something great with my time.
Rafael Parra
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