Train Vocabulary and Activities (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)
Teach your kids and young students all about train vocabulary with this activity-packed lesson.
Kids love trains. They play with them and love riding them. Teaching them how a train in Spanish functions is proven to be a unique, and amusing lesson for upgrading their language skills.
Young Spanish students are able to grasp vocabulary through engaging lessons. The more you expose them to the language, the easier it becomes for them to use it naturally in conversation.
Hop on board this resourceful, and entertaining kid’s guide to train vocabulary in Spanish.
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What Is a Train in Spanish?
Un tren (train) is a form of transportation made of connected vehicles that run along a railroad. These vehicles are called vagones (wagons).
Los trenes (trains) are meant to transport either personas (people) or carga (freight). Trains are able to move across short distances or entire countries.
The first trains were built on wooden railway systems. The invention of la locomotora (steam locomotive) was groundbreaking in the late 1700s, and transformed how people back then commuted, and traveled.
La locomotora transforms the chemical energy from the train fuel into energy of motion. Trains use madera (lumber), carbón (coal),, and diesel as fuel. There are also trains that operate on electrical power through solar panels or through an electrical line along the train tracks.
Most trains have an operator in control. The train operator or conductor controls el acelerador (throttle), la reversa (reversing gear),, and el freno (brake). The throttle, and brake are essential to slowing down the train before it comes to a complete halt.
Types of Trains
Passenger Train (tren de pasajeros)
Un tren de pasajeros transports people in large quantities. Passenger trains can travel across cities, countries,, and even continents.
Many trains take overnight trips and offer passengers the opportunity of having a private cabin where they can get some sleep. There’s also a crew to tend to travelers, and offer food, and drinks for the trip.
Freight Train (tren de carga)
Un tren de carga is exclusively for transporting heavy goods. They carry containers with lumber, coal, fuel,, and more.
Monorail (monoriel)
Un monorriel is powered by electricity. It connects people to places within short distances. You can find monorails in aeropuertos (airports), and parques temáticos (amusement parks).
Subway (subterráneo o metro)
Un metro or subterráneo transports large quantities of people in big cities. They run on electricity and are underground. El metro is pretty efficient and is the chosen option for people who are commuting.
Get into cross-continental train travel with this educational Kid’s Guide to the Globe in Spanish.
13 Fun Facts About Trains
- Before the locomotora existed, trains were powered by horses, and humans.
- Although most trains run on diesel, and electricity, steam powered trains still operate in theme parks, and tourist attractions.
- Passenger trains have one or more locomotives.
- There’s more than 800,000 miles of railroad tracks around the world.
- The top three countries with the largest rail tracks are the United States, Russia,, and China.
- Most trains require you to hold onto your ticket, and will have a crew member check it at one point of the journey.
- People who board a train without a ticket are clandestine travellers, and they’re called polizónes (stowaways).
- The fastest steam locomotive in the world reaches up to 126 miles per hour.
- The fastest diesel locomotive in the world reaches a speed of 148 miles per hour.
- Trains are able to start at a fast speed but need to slow down before coming to a complete stop.
- Railroad crossings have signals, and signs to support people, and vehicles in staying safe.
- Japan has a train that runs at a maximum speed of 200 miles per hour. It’s called Shinkansen or “bullet train.” Bullet train in Spanish means tren bala.
- Trains move people in all types of weather. Currently “el tren maya” (The Maya Train) is being built in the Mexican jungles, and rainforest.
Learn more about Latin American jungles in this colorful Kid’s Guide to the Amazon Rainforest in Spanish.
Train Vocabulary
Teach your students the different items, and parts of a train in Spanish with these useful lists of train vocabulary words, and phrases.
Train Vocabulary Part 1
| English | Spanish |
| arrival time | la hora de llegada |
| bell | la campana |
| brake | el freno |
| cabin | la cabina, el camarote |
| caboose | el furgón de cola |
| coal car | el furgón de carbón |
| conductor | el conductor |
| container | el contenedor |
| crossing sign | la señal de cruce |
| departure time | la hora de salida |
| engine | el motor |
| freight | la carga |
Example Sentences
El tren está atrasado; no sé la hora de llegada.
The train is delayed, I don’t know the arrival time.
El tren tiene una campana para anunciar las parades.
The train has a bell for announcing stops.
La cabina del tren tiene cama y televisión.
The train cabin has a bed, and television.
El furgón de cola era una oficina para el conductor.
The caboose used to be an office for the conductor.
El contenedor del tren de carga lleva madera.
The container in the freight train is carrying wood.
La señal de cruce avisa a los carros que se acerca un tren.
The crossing sign alerts cars that a train is approaching.
La hora de salida es a las 8 p.m.
The departure time is 8 p.m.
El motor del metro alcanza gran velocidad.
The engine of the subway gains great speed.
Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡️
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Train Vocabulary Part 2
| English | Spanish |
| gear | el engranaje, el cambio |
| journey | el trayecto |
| locomotive | la locomotora |
| on board a train | a bordo de un tren |
| passenger | el pasajero, la pasajera |
| platform | la plataforma, el, andén |
| railcar | el automotor |
| railroad | la vía férrea |
| schedule | el horario |
| speed | la velocidad |
| station | la estación |
| throttle | el acelerador |
| ticket | el boleto |
Example Sentences
Un tren tiene dos engranajes
A train has two gears.
El trayecto en tren es largo pero rápido.
The journey by train is long but fast.
Me encanta ser pasajero de un tren.
I love being a train passenger.
El horario del tren cambia todos los días.
The train schedule changes every day.
La velocidad del tren bala es de 200 millas por hora.
The speed of the bullet train is 200 miles per hour.
La estación de tren tiene un restaurantes.
The train station has a restaurant.
El acelerador es muy importante para el funcionamiento de un tren.
The throttle is very important for the operation of a train.
Cuando subas al tren, debes conservar tu boleto.
When you board the train, you must keep your ticket.
En Guatemala hay una vía férrea sin utilizar.
In Guatemala, there is an unused railroad.
Train Vocabulary Part 3
| English | Spanish |
| to accelerate | acelerar |
| to board a train | abordar un tren |
| to derail | descarrilar |
| to get off a train | bajar de un tren |
| to go in reverse | retroceder |
| to stop | detener, parar |
| train tracks | las pistas del tren, las vías del tren |
| train attendant | el asistente de tren |
| train engineer | el ingeniero de tren |
| train stop | la parada de tren |
| transportation | el transporte |
| wagon | el vagón, el carro |
Example Sentences
El tren debe dejar de acelerar antes de detenerse.
The train has to stop accelerating before stopping.
Tengo que abordar el tren a las 9am.
I have to board the train at 9 am.
El tren se descarriló y causó un accidente.
The train derailed and caused an accident.
Los trenes eléctricos pueden retroceder.
Electric trains are able to go in reverse.
El asistente de tren nos indico donde bajarnos del tren.
The train attendant showed us where to get off.
Las pistas de un tren necesitan mantenimiento.
Train tracks need maintenance.
Los trenes son mi forma de transporte favorito.
Trains are my favorite means of transportation.
El tren de juguete tiene nueve vagones.
The toy train has nine wagons.
Train Vocabulary Activities
Talking about a train in Spanish makes an insightful, and hands-on topic for kids. It leads to fun, and engaging activities that teach train vocabulary, and interesting facts about science, and engineering.
Keep reading for a list of train vocabulary activities, and resources for elevating your child’s Spanish level.
Human Train in Spanish
For this fun game, you’ll need masking tape and a large space. I recommend playing human train if you have a large group of students. Use masking tape to design train tracks on the floor.
Have your students line up according to height, the color of shirt, initial,, and other quirky categories you can think of. The students should line up with their hands on each other’s shoulders and have to stay on the masking tape tracks. Each student represents a wagon, there should also be a train conductor and engineer.
Assign each of your students an important role or item from the train vocabulary tables. This activity is ideal for practicing train in Spanish words and encouraging teamwork.
Train in Spanish Flashcards
Yes, good old-fashioned flashcards do the trick for Spanish train vocabulary!
Most Spanish educators use them because they are fantastic for visual learning, and for memorizing new words.
Flashcards enhance concentration and are motivating for visual learners. You can also use them to play different games, and throughout the lesson.
Train in Spanish Worksheets
Our train in Spanish worksheets are ideal for young students to get familiarized with train vocabulary. They focus on elevating your child’s reading comprehension, and concentration. They’re also the perfect resource for visual learners.
Our downloadable pack comes with a train in a Spanish word search, word match, and a true or false worksheet. Download them with the form above!
DIY Choo Choo Train
A DIY arts, and crafts project is perfect for letting your child’s creativity soar.
Get your hands on easy to source materials like:
- several egg cartons
- sticky tape
- acrylic paint
- cardboard tubes
- pen
- cotton wool
- construction paper
- scissors
- glue
Cut the egg cartons in rows of three or two. Each carton should represent a train wagon. Allow your child to decorate it using acrylic paint, and construction paper of different colors. They can decorate it with passengers, freight, or even animals!
Use the cotton wool to secure each wagon with each other using tape. This activity is ideal for your kids to learn how train wagons are interconnected while practicing train vocabulary.
Train in Spanish Videos
YouTube has a wide selection of trains in Spanish vocabulary, and how they function. Videos are ideal for visual learners, they bring something extra to the ordinary Spanish classroom. They are ideal for supporting your child’s listening, and Spanish pronunciation.
Here’s a list of trains in Spanish videos for you to choose from.
- Trenes para niños en Español (Trains for Kids in Spanish)
- Los trenes para niños (Trains for Kids)
- Los 10 trenes más rápidos del mundo (The 10 Fastest Trains in the World)
- Soñando arriba del tren (Dreaming Aboard a Train)
Train in Spanish Books
Trains are an inspiration for fantastic stories and tales for all tastes. Some of the best books in Spanish take place on board a train. Here’s a selection of trains in Spanish books for you to use in this lesson.
- Grandes trenes de la historia (Great Trains of History)
- Que duermas bien pequeño tren (Sleep Tight Little Train)
- Tiempo de trenes (Train Time)
- El tren a lugares imposibles (The Train to Impossible Places)
- El libro de los trenes (The Book of Trains)
- Trenes (Trains)
- Metro (Subway)
- El tren de la paz (The Peace Train)
- Tren (Train)
- Stanley y su tren (Stanley, and His Train)
Hop On Board the Spanish-speaking Train
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