Spanish word

guagua

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgwaɣwa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbus

Example

¿Dónde está la guagua?

Where is the bus?

Illustration for guagua (bus)

More examples

Me subí a la guagua equivocada.

I got on the wrong bus.

Core concept

Short public bus used on island routes.

Common phrases

  • subirse a la guagua

    get on the bus

  • bajarse de la guagua

    get off the bus

  • esperar la guagua

    wait for the bus

Similar words

autobús: City or suburban passenger bus that operates on regular scheduled routes.
bus: Route bus in colloquial, English-influenced usage.
colectivo: Shared urban minibus that picks up multiple passengers along its route.
microbús: Small minibus with limited seats that serves narrow or winding streets.

Definition in Spanish

Término popular que designa el autobús en zonas isleñas y caribeñas, mientras que en algunas comunidades andinas se usa para 'bebé'.

Word origin

Derived from English wagon via Caribbean Spanish to refer to a local bus, with the unrelated Andean 'baby' sense from Quechua wawa.

Usage tips

  • Outside island and Caribbean areas speakers usually say autobús, so guagua will sound regional and informal.

Other meanings

  • babynoun

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