guagua
everyday, Cuba
In Cuba a bus is a guagua. The words ómnibus and autobús are understood and appear in formal or written use, but everyday speech says guagua.
Meaning: public road vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| guagua | everyday, Cuba |
| ómnibus | formal |
| autobús | standard |
A bus stop is a parada de guagua and "to catch the bus" is coger la guagua.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word guagua is also used in the Canary Islands, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In Mexico or Spain, guagua would not be the normal word, and in Chile it means a baby.
Did you know?
- In Chile and some nearby countries guagua means a baby, so the same word has two very different meanings in Spanish.
Examples in context
- Voy a coger la guagua.I am going to take the bus.
- La guagua está llena.The bus is full.
- ¿Dónde queda la parada de la guagua?Where is the bus stop?
Example conversation
Yaima asks a neighbor about the bus in Santiago de Cuba.
- Yaima¿A qué hora pasa la guagua?What time does the bus come?
- VecinoDentro de diez minutos.In ten minutes.
- YaimaGracias, voy a esperar aquí.Thanks, I will wait here.
