terminal
/teɾmiˈnal/masculine
The English word "terminal" (referring to an airport or transport building) is translated into Spanish as terminal.
The word terminal is used to refer to the building at an airport or a transportation hub. Depending on what type of transportation you are discussing, the gender of the word changes.
Meaning: airport building (noun)
Which one should you use?
The choice between masculine and feminine forms depends on the context. When discussing an airport terminal, the noun is typically feminine. When referring to a bus or transport terminal, the noun is often masculine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, locals often use the term central de autobuses instead of terminal de autobuses to refer to a bus terminal.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the noun is masculine as el terminal when used for a bus or transport terminal. However, it is typically feminine as la terminal when referring specifically to an airport terminal.
How do you pronounce it?
/teɾmiˈnal/
Did you know?
- The word terminal is derived from the Latin terminus, which was the name of the Roman god of boundary markers.
- In some Latin American countries, a bus terminal is not just a station but a complex where various companies compete for passengers in an open-air market style.
- While terminal describes a building, Spanish speakers often use the word cabecera to describe the head of a runway or the very end of a terminal pier.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde está la terminal sur?Where is the south terminal?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a specific airport terminal.Tatoeba #1332385 by Shishir, translation #280796 by CK
- ¿Dónde está el terminal de buses?Where is the bus terminal?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a bus terminal.Tatoeba #1239069 by marcelostockle, translation #35406 by CK
- Sal de la terminal y gira a la derecha.Go out of the terminal and turn right.This sentence is useful for giving directions to exit a terminal.Tatoeba #1766846 by Shishir, translation #41243 by CM
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está la terminal de autobuses?Excuse me, where is the bus terminal?
- Me gustaría comprar un boleto en la estación de autobuses.I would like to purchase a ticket at the bus terminal.
- Oye, ¿sabes dónde está la terminal de autobuses?Hey, do you know where the bus terminal is?
- La central de autobuses está al lado del centro comercial.The bus terminal is next to the shopping center.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are arriving at the airport.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿en qué terminal aterrizamos?Alejandro, which terminal did we land in?
- AlejandroLlegamos a la terminal internacional.We arrived at the international terminal.
- ElenaTengo que buscar mi maleta en la terminal.I have to look for my suitcase in the terminal.
- AlejandroVamos, la salida está cerca de aquí.Let's go, the exit is near here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “terminal” translations and entries terminal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries terminal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
