tomar el autobús
/tomaɾ el autobus/from spelling rules
To say "take the bus" in Spanish, use tomar el autobús.
tomar el autobús is a common and neutral way to express the idea of using a bus as a means of transportation.
Which one should you use?
While tomar el autobús is widely understood, speakers in Spain often use coger el autobús to mean the same thing. In Latin America, the verb tomar is more common for this purpose.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you will often hear tomar el camión instead of tomar el autobús to refer to a city bus. Additionally, agarrar el bus is a common informal expression in parts of Latin America, specifically in Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela.
How does it change in a sentence?
This phrase includes the definite article el (the). You must include el when you are talking about taking "the" bus. It cannot be omitted.
How do you pronounce it?
/tomaɾ el autobus/
Did you know?
- While 'take the bus' is a simple phrase, using the verb coger in many parts of Latin America can be extremely risky as it is a vulgar slang term for sexual intercourse.
- The verb tomar is used both for taking the bus and for drinking alcohol, which can lead to ambiguous sentences if the object is omitted.
- The word autobús is actually a linguistic descendant of the Latin word 'omnibus', which meant 'for all'.
Examples in context
- ¿Tenemos que tomar el autobús?Do we have to take the bus?This sentence is useful for asking if taking the bus is a requirement.Tatoeba #493774 by darinmex, translation #707437 by papabear
- Yo necesito tomar el autobús en la mañana.I need to take the bus in the morning.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal need to take the bus in the morning.Tatoeba #9932269 by Ricardo14, translation #9932272 by Ricardo14
- Vamos a tomar el autobús que sale a las cuatro.We are going to take the bus that leaves at four.This sentence is useful for specifying which bus you intend to take based on its departure time.Tatoeba #980405 by ssc73, translation #5331756 by illustrium
- Es más conveniente utilizar el servicio de autobús en lugar de conducir.It is more convenient to use the bus service instead of driving.
- Para explorar la ciudad, es recomendable desplazarse en autobús.To explore the city, it is advisable to move around by bus.
- Nos conviene agarrar el bus para llegar más rápido.It's better for us to catch the bus to get there faster.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are deciding how to get to the museum.
- Daniel¿Podemos tomar el autobús para ir al museo?Can we take the bus to go to the museum?
- SofíaSí, es más fácil que caminar.Yes, it is easier than walking.
- DanielPerfecto, yo prefiero tomar el autobús.Perfect, I prefer to take the bus.
- SofíaDe acuerdo, busquemos la parada.Agreed, let's look for the stop.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries autobús, el, tomar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
