coger el autobús
/koxeɾ el autobus/from spelling rules
To catch the bus in Spanish is coger el autobús.
This phrase is used to describe arriving at a bus stop in time to board a bus. In some Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Spain, the verb 'coger' is used to say 'catch the bus'.
Which one should you use?
The phrase perder el autobús is the opposite of coger el autobús, meaning to miss the bus.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Canary Islands and some parts of the Caribbean, you should use coger la guagua. In Argentina, Uruguay and parts of Chile, the phrase tomar el colectivo is used. In most of Latin America, it is better to use tomar el autobús, as the verb tomar is preferred over coger for the sense of 'to catch' or 'to take'.
How do you pronounce it?
/koxeɾ el autobus/
Did you know?
- While coger el autobús is perfectly standard in Spain, you should be cautious using the verb coger in many Latin American countries, where it often carries a strong sexual connotation.
- In the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, people use guagua instead of autobús, a word likely derived from English 'wagon'.
- The English word 'college' and the Spanish verb coger share the same Latin ancestor, 'colligere', which meant 'to collect' or 'to gather'.
Examples in context
- Han tardado tres horas en coger el autobús.It took them three hours before they could catch the bus.This sentence shows how long it took them to coger el autobús.Tatoeba #3453653 by hantol01, translation #3454861 by hantol01
- ¿Dónde puedo coger el autobús para la estación de Tokio?Where can I catch the bus to the Tokyo station?This sentence is useful for asking where you can coger el autobús for a specific destination.Tatoeba #2063989 by lazarus1907, translation #279820 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿dónde puedo tomar el autobús hacia el centro de la ciudad?Excuse me, where can I catch the bus to downtown?
- Voy a agarrar el bus para ir al trabajo.I'm going to catch the bus to go to work.
- Vamos a montarnos en el bus de las 9:30 a.m.Let's catch the 9:30 a.m. bus.
- ¡Espérame en la parada para coger la guagua!Wait for me at the bus stop to catch the bus!
- Voy a tomar el colectivo para ir al centro.I'm going to catch the bus to go downtown.
- Tengo que correr para coger el autobús.I have to run to catch the bus.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are at the bus stop.
- Alejandro¿Crees que vamos a coger el autobús a tiempo?Do you think we are going to catch the bus in time?
- MaríaSí, ya casi llega.Yes, it is almost here.
- AlejandroMenos mal, no quería perderlo.Thank goodness, I didn't want to miss it.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, Alejandro.Don't worry, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries autobús, coger, el, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
