To move around a city or go from one place to another, very frequent words such as viaje, transporte, ruta, estación and parada are used. They serve to talk about both a short journey, such as going to work, and a long trip between cities. When someone says voy de viaje or tomo el transporte público, they are talking about how they move. Basic ideas like salida, llegada and destino also appear. Many of these words are related to Lugares and to Direcciones y Localizaciones, because a trip always connects one point with another.

The most common means of transport in Spanish are coche, autobús, tren, metro, avión and barco. Coche is used for a private vehicle; autobús for road public transportation; tren for journeys on tracks; metro to move around inside the city; avión for long distances through the air; and barco to travel by sea or river. You also hear taxi for a short and direct transfer, and bicicleta for urban trips. In normal conversation, you can say voy en autobús, viajo en tren or llego en avión. These names appear a lot together with Lugares, because each means is used in specific spaces such as stations, airports and ports.

bicicletaautobúspatinetebarcocochemotocicletatrenmetrotaxiavión

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Vehículo de dos ruedas con motor para una o dos personasVehículo grande para transportar muchas personas por la ciudad o entre ciudadesVehículo de dos ruedas que se mueve con pedalesEmbarcación que se usa para cruzar agua o hacer recorridos marítimosTransporte que circula sobre raíles y suele unir ciudades o pueblosAeronave usada para viajar largas distancias por el aireTransporte urbano rápido que viaja bajo tierra o por vías especialesVehículo ligero para desplazarse de pie empujándose con un pieVehículo pequeño para viajar por carretera con pocas personasVehículo con conductor que lleva pasajeros a un lugar concreto

Most Common Means of Transportation

Word	Definition
coche	Small vehicle for road travel with few people.
autobús	Large vehicle to transport many people in the city or between cities.
tren	Rail transport that runs on rails and usually connects cities or towns.
metro	Fast urban transport that travels underground or on special tracks.
avión	Aircraft used for long-distance travel through the air.
barco	Boat used to cross water or undertake maritime journeys.
bicicleta	Two-wheeled vehicle that moves with pedals.
taxi	Vehicle with a driver that takes passengers to a specific place.
motocicleta	Two-wheeled vehicle with an engine for one or two people.
patinete	Light vehicle to move while standing, pushing with one foot.

Scramble

To describe a journey, the most useful verbs are ir, salir, llegar, volver, embarcar and desembarcar. Ir expresses movement toward a place: voy al aeropuerto. Salir marks the moment when the journey begins: el tren sale a las ocho. Llegar indicates the end: llegamos tarde. Volver describes the return to the starting point: vuelvo mañana. Embarcar is used when a person gets onto a plane, boat or long-distance train, and desembarcar when they get off. These verbs are usually combined with places and directions, as in salir de la estación, llegar a casa or volver del trabajo.

continuardesembarcarvolverembarcarpararconducircogerirsalirllegar

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Seguir avanzando sin detener el viajeRegresar al lugar de origenTocar un destino después de viajar o caminarLlevar un vehículo controlando el volante o los mandosMoverse de un lugar a otro o dirigirse hacia un destinoDejar un lugar para empezar un recorridoDetenerse por un momento durante el recorridoTomar un transporte para ir a otro lugarBajar de un barco o avión al terminar el trayectoSubir a un barco o avión para comenzar el viaje

Basic actions during a journey

Word	Definition
ir	Move from one place to another or toward a destination.
salir	Leave a place to start a journey.
llegar	Reach a destination after traveling or walking.
volver	Return to the place of origin.
embarcar	Board a ship or plane to begin the journey.
desembarcar	Disembark from a ship or plane at the end of the journey.
parar	Stop for a moment during the journey.
continuar	Continue to move forward without stopping the trip.
conducir	Drive a vehicle by controlling the steering wheel or controls.
coger	Take a means of transport to go somewhere.

Scramble

When buying or confirming a trip, words like billete, reserva, ida y vuelta, asiento and puerta de embarque appear. Billete is the document that allows you to travel. Reserva is the seat booked in advance. Ida y vuelta indicates that the trip includes both legs, outbound and return. Asiento is the allocated place to sit, and puerta de embarque is the point from which you board the plane. You also use confirmar, comprar and cambiar to talk about managing the trip. In purchase contexts, these words work similarly to those in Compras, because you ask, pay and receive a receipt.

puerta de embarquecancelaciónasientoida y vueltadescuentoconfirmaciónbilletecambiotarifareserva

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Viaje que incluye el trayecto de salida y el de regresoMensaje o documento que prueba que una compra o reserva está hechaDocumento que permite viajar en un transportePrecio establecido para un viaje o servicioModificación de fecha, hora o asiento en una reservaAnulación de un viaje, vuelo o reservaReducción del precio que se paga por un billete o reservaLugar del aeropuerto donde los pasajeros esperan para subir al aviónApartar un sitio o servicio para usarlo más tardeLugar donde se sienta una persona en un transporte

Tickets and travel arrangements

Word	Definition
billete	Document that allows you to travel on a form of transport.
reserva	To reserve a seat or service to use it later.
ida y vuelta	Trip that includes the outbound and return legs.
asiento	Place where a person sits in a transport.
puerta de embarque	Airport area where passengers wait to board the plane.
confirmación	Message or document that proves a purchase or booking is made.
tarifa	Price set for a trip or service.
cancelación	Cancellation of a trip, flight or booking.
cambio	Modification of date, time or seat in a booking.
descuento	Reduction of the price paid for a ticket or booking.

Scramble

In a station or at an airport you hear many fixed words: andén, mostrador, facturación and control. Andén is the area where the train or metro is waited for. Mostrador is the customer service desk, where doubts are resolved or luggage is handed over. Facturación is the process of checking in the suitcase before flying. Control usually refers to security control or passport control. Also common are salida, llegada, embarque and información. If someone asks ¿dónde está el andén? or ¿cuál es el mostrador de facturación?, they need to locate themselves within a very concrete space, such as those of Lugares.

pantallallegadafacturacióncontrolsalidaterminalvíamostradorandéntaquilla

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Revisión de documentos, equipaje o personas antes de viajarProceso de entregar el equipaje y registrar el viajeEdificio o zona principal de un aeropuerto o estaciónSuperficie donde aparecen horarios y avisos de viajesVentana o lugar donde se venden billetesLugar por donde se deja el recinto o también horario en que parte un transporteCamino por donde circula un trenZona de la estación donde espera la gente para subir al tren o metroMesa o ventanilla donde se atiende a los viajerosLugar o momento en que un transporte entra o termina su recorrido

Places and transit zones

Word	Definition
andén	Station area where people wait to board the train or subway.
mostrador	Table or counter where travelers are attended to.
facturación	Process of checking in luggage and registering the trip.
control	Review of documents, luggage or people before traveling.
terminal	Building or main area of an airport or station.
vía	Track where a train runs on.
salida	Place where you leave the premises or also the departure time.
llegada	Place or moment when a transportation enters or ends its journey.
pantalla	Surface where schedules and travel notices appear.
taquilla	Window or place where tickets are sold.

Scramble

To ask for or understand a journey, it is useful to handle ruta, parada, transbordo, destino and dirección. Ruta is the path followed by a bus, a train or a car trip. Parada is the place where the transport stops to board or alight passengers. Transbordo happens when you change from one mode of transport to another, such as from the metro to the bus. Destino is the place reached at the end. Dirección indicates where to go or what the exact location is. These words are used with questions like ¿qué ruta va al centro?, ¿dónde está la parada? or ¿hay transbordo?, and they are best understood together with Direcciones y Localizaciones.

rutadestinoaccesodesvíoparadatransbordodirecciónitinerarioseñalizacióntrayecto

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Lugar donde se detiene un transporte para recoger o dejar pasajerosLugar al que se dirige un viajeRecorrido completo entre el punto de salida y el de llegadaConjunto de señales que orientan a los viajerosCambio de camino habitual por una ruta diferentePlan con los lugares y horarios de un viajeIndicación del lugar hacia el que se vaCambio de un transporte a otro durante el viajeCamino o recorrido que sigue un transporte o una personaEntrada o posibilidad de entrar a un lugar

Vocabulary for routes and journeys

Word	Definition
ruta	Path or journey that a transportation or person follows.
parada	Place where a transportation stops to pick up or drop off passengers.
transbordo	Transfer from one transportation to another during the journey.
destino	Place toward which a journey goes.
dirección	Indication of the place you are going towards.
trayecto	Complete journey between the starting point and the arrival.
desvío	Change of the usual path to a different route.
itinerario	Plan with places and times of a trip.
acceso	Entrance or possibility of entering a place.
señalización	Set of signals that guide travelers.

Scramble

Transport schedules are usually described with salida, llegada, retraso and puntualidad. Salida is the time a vehicle leaves; llegada, the time the journey ends. Retraso indicates that something happens later than planned. Puntualidad means the service meets the advertised time. Also appears frecuencia to say how often a bus or train passes: cada diez minutos, cada hora, varias veces al día. In real conversations you say el tren sale a las nueve, el autobús llega con retraso or el vuelo es puntual. These expressions help organize plans and query information of Lugares with precision.

semanalhorariosalidafrecuenciapuntualidadretrasodiariotemporadallegadaintervalo

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Lista de horas en que salen o llegan los transportesMomento en que un transporte empieza su recorridoQue ocurre cada semanaMomento en que un transporte termina su recorridoEspacio de tiempo entre dos salidas o llegadasCualidad de llegar o salir a la hora previstaNúmero de veces que pasa un transporte en un periodoPeriodo del año en que un servicio cambia o aumentaLlegada más tarde de lo previstoQue ocurre todos los días

Words for schedules and travel time

Word	Definition
horario	List of times when transports depart or arrive.
salida	Moment when a transport begins its journey.
llegada	Moment when a transport ends its journey.
retraso	Arrival later than planned.
puntualidad	Quality of arriving or leaving at the planned time.
frecuencia	Number of times a transport passes in a period.
diario	That occurs every day.
semanal	That occurs every week.
temporada	Period of the year when a service changes or increases.
intervalo	Time interval between two departures or arrivals.

Scramble

When traveling, the basic vocabulary includes maleta, mochila, equipaje de mano, pérdida and recogida. Maleta is the big bag to carry clothes and items. Mochila is used to carry things on the back. Equipaje de mano is the small bag that goes with the person in the airplane or train cabin. Pérdida is used when an object does not appear, as in pérdida de equipaje. Recogida is the moment or place where something is collected, especially the luggage on the airport belt. Also used are documentos, bolsa and etiqueta when describing what a person carries during the trip.

mochilaequipaje de manopesopérdidaetiquetavolumencandadomaletaobjetos personalesrecogida

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Cierre pequeño para asegurar una mochila o maletaCosas que pertenecen a una persona y lleva consigoLugar o momento en que se retira un equipaje o un objetoCantidad que marca cuánto pesa un equipaje o paqueteBolsa que se lleva en la espaldaSituación en la que un objeto no aparece o no llegaPapel o tarjeta que identifica el equipajeEspacio que ocupa un equipaje o una cajaEquipaje pequeño que se lleva en la cabina del transporteBolsa rígida o blanda para llevar ropa y objetos de viaje

Objects and luggage for the trip

Word	Definition
maleta	Stiff or soft bag for carrying clothes and travel items.
mochila	Bag carried on the back.
equipaje de mano	Small luggage taken in the cabin.
pérdida	Situation where an object does not appear or arrive.
recogida	Place or moment when luggage or an item is retrieved.
etiqueta	Paper or card that identifies the luggage.
candado	Small lock to secure a backpack or suitcase.
objetos personales	Things that belong to a person and that they carry with them.
peso	Amount that marks how much a piece of luggage weighs.
volumen	Space that luggage or a box occupies.

Scramble

To ask for information and buy a ticket, phrases such as ¿cuánto cuesta?, ¿a qué hora sale?, ¿para dónde va? and quiero un billete are useful. At a ticket window, on a website or at a counter, you ask about the precio, the destino, the horario and the type of ticket. The answer may include solo ida, ida y vuelta, asiento disponible or sale de la puerta dos. Also common are reservar, confirmar and pagar. In a real situation, a person might say quiero reservar un asiento para Barcelona or necesito saber si hay plaza para hoy. This type of exchange is used a lot in travel and also in contexts of Compras.

Useful phrases for asking for information

Usage	Explanation
Ask for schedules	Use this question to know at what time a transport leaves or arrives.
Ask about the price	Use this question to know how much a ticket or service costs.
Confirm destination	Use this form to verify where the transport goes.
Buy ticket	Use this expression to indicate that you want to purchase a ticket.
Reserve seat	Use this expression to request a specific seat in the transport.
Ask for repetition	Use this phrase to ask that the information be repeated more slowly.
Ask for stops	Use this question to know where the transport stops during the trip.
Request help	Use this formula to ask for direct assistance from another person.
Check delay	Use this question to know if there is a schedule change.
Understand directions	Use this phrase to show that you want to understand the travel instructions.

In different Spanish-speaking countries, some transports change name. Autobús is the most general form, but in several places people say guagua for the urban bus and camión for certain bus services. They can also vary words like parada, terminal, estación or micro, depending on the country and region. In one region, camión may refer to a bus; in another, it designates a freight vehicle, so context is essential. The same happens with the líneas and the local names of routes. When traveling, it is useful to recognize these variants to understand announcements, ask about routes and use the vocabulary of Lugares and Direcciones y Localizaciones without problems.

busetaautobúscolectivoguaguabusetacombicamiónguaguacarritomicro

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Se usa como nombre de un transporte colectivo pequeñoSe usa como nombre habitual del autobús urbanoSe usa como nombre coloquial del autobús urbanoSe usa como nombre coloquial de un transporte pequeño en ciertos lugaresSe usa como nombre general del vehículo urbano o interurbanoSe usa como nombre cotidiano del autobús en muchas conversacionesSe usa como nombre coloquial del autobús pequeño en muchas ciudadesSe usa como nombre de un autobús pequeño o mediano en el habla cotidianaSe usa como nombre coloquial del autobús urbano en algunas zonasSe usa como nombre coloquial del autobús en el habla diaria

Regional names for transportation

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
Spain	autobús	Used as a general name for the urban or interurban vehicle.	En España, autobús es la palabra más habitual.In Spain, bus is the most common word.
Cuba	guagua	Used as the colloquial name for the bus in everyday speech.	En Cuba, guagua puede tardar un poco más de lo esperado.In Cuba, guagua can take a little longer than expected.
Puerto Rico	guagua	Used as the everyday name for the bus in many conversations.	En Puerto Rico, guagua lleva a la playa y al centro.In Puerto Rico, guagua takes you to the beach and to the mall.
Chile	micro	Used as the colloquial name for the urban bus.	En Chile, la micro pasa por la avenida principal.In Chile, the micro goes along the main avenue.
Peru	combi	Used as the name for a small passenger transport.	En Perú, la combi va llena de música.In Peru, the combi is full of music.
Mexico	camión	Used as the colloquial name for the urban bus in some regions.	En México, el camión va directo al mercado.In Mexico, the camión goes straight to the market.
Argentina	colectivo	Used as the common name for the urban bus.	En Argentina, el colectivo llega antes de las nueve.In Argentina, the colectivo arrives before nine.
Colombia	buseta	Used as the name for a small or medium bus in everyday speech.	En Colombia, la buseta para en la esquina.In Colombia, the buseta stops at the corner.
Venezuela	carrito	Used as the colloquial name for a small transport in certain places.	En Venezuela, el carrito sube por la colina.In Venezuela, the carrito goes up the hill.
Ecuador	buseta	Used as the colloquial name for a small bus in many cities.	En Ecuador, la buseta sale temprano.In Ecuador, the buseta leaves early.

Scramble