
If you live in a big Spanish city, you’re used to using public transport. If you’ve just moved in, you’ll need to know how to use it and how to ask for help if you need it. Let’s start the journey!
Firstly, we will see some useful vocabulary for you to learn some words before you take public transport. In the beginning, you need to buy a “ticket” to be able to travel legally. It is called “boleto”, and you can buy a single one for one trip, a “sencillo”; a double one, a “doble” or another type like the student’s ticket, “un boleto para estudiante”.
Then you need to know some useful Spanish vocabulary:
- where your transport stops: “la parada”
- what line you have to follow to reach your destination, “la línea”
- if you have to switch vehicles “hacer un transbordo”
- the destination where you have to stop, “el destino”
- the schedule of the train, bus, tram, “el horario”
If you don’t know where to buy “el billete”, you can ask someone nearby but, on the bus, you can ask for it from the driver or pay with a card. On the train, you’ll have to buy it in different machines around the station, and the same with the tram. Don’t forget to buy whatever type of “billete” you want and, don’t worry, you will be able to pay by cash or card.
Now, you may need to ask for help if you don’t understand how to reach “una estación” or don’t know what type of transport you should take or how much “el billete” costs. Here you have some useful questions to do in Spanish:
- to know where the nearest station is you can say “¿Dónde está la estación más cercana?”
- if you are confused about the price of a ticket you can ask “¿Cuánto cuesta el billete?”
- and, if you don’t know the correct bus/train to reach your destination you can say “¿Qué autobús/ tren va a este destino?”
Once you are at the proper station of the public transport, make sure you are on it: look for the name and the line you are following. Then, before getting in the vehicle:
- check the number of it and confirm it with the driver or some passengers:“¿Este bus/tres va a este destino?”
- before getting down, be aware of “la parada” and press the button “solicitar parada” if you’re on a bus.
Fantastic! “¡Felicidades!” You’ve reached your destination. By the way, on your trip you may have seen some signs but, don’t worry, they’re easy to understand. If you see “Salida”, it means “Exit”; if you read “Prohibido pasar”, it means “Do not enter” and “Próxima parada” is “Next stop”:
Let’s see an example of an interaction between John (an imaginary character) and a bus driver.
JOHN: Buenas tardes, ¿este bus va al centro de la ciudad?
CONDUCTOR: Buenas tardes. Sí, este bus para en el centro, ¿a qué zona quiere ir?
JOHN: Quiero ir cerca de la Plaza Redonda.
CONDUCTOR: Está bien, tendrá que parar entonces en la parada “Plaza del Ayuntamiento”.
JOHN: Está bien, gracias. ¿Cuánto cuesta el boleto?
CONDUCTOR. De nada. El boleto cuesta 1,5 euros.
JOHN: No tengo efectivo, ¿puedo pagar con tarjeta?
CONDUCTOR: Claro, en la parte de detrás puedes pagar con tu tarjeta de crédito.
JOHN: Genial, gracias.
CONDUCTOR: Gracias a usted. Que tenga un buen día.
We’re so excited to help you make your trip on public transport an amazing adventure! And remember, don’t be shy — use your Spanish to explore and discover!
And don’t forget, if you’re looking to learn Spanish in Valencia with the best teachers, our Spanish language school is here for you!
Spanish & Valencia – Private Spanish Lessons
C/ del Mar 23-25 Valencia – Spain
hola@spanishandvalencia.com
mobile: 686815311
Author: Maria Pilar Casabán
Photo: Nishino Minase