Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| autobús | /autoˈbus/ | masculine |
| bus | /ˈbus/ | masculine |
| camión | /kaˈmjon/ | Mexico, masculine |
| camioneta | /kamjoˈneta/ | feminine, informal |
| chiva | /ˈt͡ʃiba/ | Colombia, Panama, feminine |
| colectivo | /koleɡˈtibo/ | Argentina, masculine |
| guagua | /ˈɡwaɡwa/ | feminine |
| micro | /ˈmikɾo/ | Argentina, Chile, feminine |
| ómnibus | /ˈomnibus/ | Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, masculine |
| bondi | /bondi/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, colloquial, masculine |
Which one should you use?
In Mexico, camión is used for a bus, whereas camioneta refers to a smaller vehicle such as a van, pickup truck or SUV. In Argentina, colectivo is the standard term for a public bus, while bondi is a colloquial slang version of the same word. In Chile and parts of Argentina, micro is also frequently used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ómnibus can be used as a formal way to say bus in Nicaragua. In certain regions of Nicaragua, camión is used as an informal way to refer to a bus. In Argentina, bondi is a colloquial term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Camión is commonly used in Mexico to refer to a city bus. In Argentina, colectivo is the standard term, while bondi is the colloquial slang. In Chile and parts of Argentina, micro is a common term. In Colombia and Panama, chiva is used. In Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, ómnibus is used. In many Caribbean countries and the Canary Islands, guagua is the common term.
How does it change in a sentence?
Autobús and bus are masculine nouns. Camión, colectivo, ómnibus and bondi are also masculine. Camioneta, chiva, guagua and micro are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/autoˈbus/
Did you know?
- The term chiva used in Colombia and Panama for a bus refers to a type of brightly decorated, rustic transport, rather than a standard city vehicle.
- The word camión is used for a city bus in Mexico, but in most other Spanish-speaking countries, it refers specifically to a heavy freight truck.
- The word ómnibus used in parts of Central and South America comes from the Latin 'omnis', meaning 'all'.
Examples in context
- Hay un bus aquí.There's a bus here.This sentence is useful for stating the presence of a bus.Tatoeba #1547961 by marcelostockle, translation #880573 by CM
- Aquí está el bus.Here's the bus.This sentence is useful for pointing out a specific bus.Tatoeba #1279969 by marcelostockle, translation #43219 by CK
- El bus ya se fue.The bus has already gone.This sentence is useful for describing the departure of a bus.Tatoeba #1705339 by marcelostockle, translation #35308 by CK
- El busito pasa cada media hora por aquí.The bus passes by here every half an hour.
- 633 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are waiting at a bus stop.
- MateoSofía, ¿ya viene el autobús?Sofía, is the bus coming yet?
- SofíaNo lo sé, Mateo, creo que viene tarde.I don't know, Mateo, I think it is coming late.
- MateoEl autobús debería haber llegado hace diez minutos.The bus should have arrived ten minutes ago.
- SofíaMira, ese autobús que viene es el nuestro.Look, that bus coming is ours.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bus” translations and entries autobús, bus, camión, camioneta, chiva, colectivo, guagua, micro, ómnibus, bondi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries autobús, bus, camioneta, camión, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
