guagua
Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rican Spanish a bus is a guagua, not autobús as in many other countries.
Meaning: public road vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| guagua | Puerto Rico |
| autobús | standard |
People say la guagua for the city bus and for a school bus.
Which one should you use?
Autobús is understood everywhere and shows up in writing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Guagua is also used in Cuba and the Canary Islands, while most other countries say autobús or another local word.
Did you know?
- The word guagua is shared by Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Canary Islands.
Examples in context
- Voy en guagua al trabajo.I go to work by bus.
- La guagua llega a las ocho.The bus arrives at eight.
Example conversation
Ricardo asks a driver named Don Pepe about a bus in San Juan.
- RicardoDon Pepe, ¿esta guagua va a Santurce?Don Pepe, does this bus go to Santurce?
- PepeSí, súbase.Yes, get on.
- RicardoGracias.Thank you.
