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.
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.
| Country | Names |
| Argentina | Colectivo, bondi, omnibus, micro |
| Bolivia | Autocar, flota, omnibus, colectivo, micro, mini |
| Chile | Micro, liebre, bus, taxibus, acordeón |
| Colombia | Autobús, microbús, chiva, flota, buseta |
| Costa Rica | Bus, buseta, chivilla, cazadora, lata |
| Cuba | Güagüa, omnibus |
| Ecuador | Bus, buseta, colectivo |
| El Salvador | Microbus, bus, chuzón |
| España | Autobús, camioneta, micro |
| Guatemala | Camioneta, bus, autobús, burra |
| Honduras | Bus, autobús |
| México | Camión, micro, pesero, burra |
| Nicaragua | Bus, camioneta, ruta, microbus |
| Panamá | Bus, chiva, autobús |
| Paraguay | Micro, colectivo, omnibus |
| Uruguay | Omnibus, bote, bondi |
| Venezuela | Autobús, 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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