Transport (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Transport
Ways of travelling
When discussing transport in Spanish, you'll need to know the different methods available and how to express your travel preferences. The key question to ask someone about their travel plans is "¿Cómo viajarás?" (How will you travel?).
Main transport methods
| Spanish | Article | English |
|---|---|---|
| el avión | masculine | plane |
| la autocaravana | feminine | motorhome |
| el barco | masculine | boat/ship |
| el globo aerostático | masculine | hot air balloon |
| el metro | masculine | metro/underground |
| el taxi | masculine | taxi |
| el tren | masculine | train |
| el autobús | masculine | bus |
Ejemplo Práctico: Expressing Travel Preferences
- Voy a viajar en avión a Madrid. (I'm going to travel by plane to Madrid.)
- Prefiero viajar en tren porque es más cómodo. (I prefer to travel by train because it's more comfortable.)
- ¿Vas a coger el metro o el taxi? (Are you going to take the metro or the taxi?)
Grammar Note: When expressing how you travel, use the preposition "en" followed by the transport method. This is equivalent to "by" in English.
At the airport - En el aeropuerto
Airports can be busy places, so knowing the essential vocabulary will help you navigate them confidently. Understanding these terms is essential for smooth travel experiences, especially when dealing with check-in procedures and security controls.
Essential airport vocabulary
| Spanish | Article | English |
|---|---|---|
| el aeropuerto | masculine | airport |
| el pasaporte | masculine | passport |
| la facturación | feminine | check-in |
| el/la pasajero/a | masculine/feminine | passenger |
| la maleta | feminine | suitcase |
| el equipaje de mano | masculine | hand luggage |
| el control de seguridad | masculine | security control |
| la pantalla | feminine | screen |
| la tarjeta de embarque | feminine | boarding card |
| la puerta de embarque | feminine | boarding gate |
| la escalera mecánica | feminine | escalator |
| el ascensor | masculine | lift |
| la información turística | feminine | tourist information |
| el cambio de divisas | masculine | currency exchange |
| la oficina de objetos perdidos | feminine | lost property office |
| el alquiler de coches | masculine | car rental |
| la recogida de equipaje | feminine | baggage collection |
Ejemplo Práctico: Airport Conversations
- Necesito mi pasaporte para la facturación. (I need my passport for check-in.)
- La puerta de embarque está en la pantalla. (The boarding gate is on the screen.)
- ¿Dónde está la recogida de equipaje? (Where is the baggage collection?)
- Tengo que pasar por el control de seguridad. (I have to go through security control.)
Formal Address at Airports: When airport staff address passengers, they use "usted" instead of "tú". This shows respect and professionalism in service situations.
At the train station - En la estación de tren
Train travel is particularly popular in Spain, especially with the high-speed AVE service. Understanding train station vocabulary will make your journey much smoother and help you navigate the purchasing process effectively.
Train station vocabulary
| Spanish | Article | English |
|---|---|---|
| la estación de tren | feminine | train station |
| el horario de trenes | masculine | train timetable |
| la sala de espera | feminine | waiting room |
| las máquinas de autoventa | feminine (plural) | ticket machines |
| el billete | masculine | ticket |
| el billete de ida | masculine | one-way ticket |
| el billete de ida y vuelta | masculine | return ticket |
| la taquilla | feminine | ticket office |
| el andén | masculine | platform |
| la vía | feminine | track |
| el mapa | masculine | map |
| llegar | - | to arrive |
| salir | - | to leave/depart |
| el metálico | masculine | cash |
Ejemplo Práctico: Train Station Situations
- ¿A qué hora sale el tren a Barcelona? (What time does the train to Barcelona leave?)
- Quiero un billete de ida y vuelta, por favour. (I want a return ticket, please.)
- El tren llega al andén número cinco. (The train arrives at platform number five.)
- ¿Puedo pagar en metálico? (Can I pay in cash?)
Understanding the 24-hour clock
In Spanish-speaking countries, transport timetables use the 24-hour system. This prevents confusion and ensures accuracy in scheduling.
| 12-hour format | 24-hour format | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | 09:00 | Son las nueve. |
| 11:30 a.m. | 11:30 | Son las once y media. |
| 2:00 p.m. | 14:00 | Son las catorce. |
| 4:15 p.m. | 16:15 | Son las dieciséis quince. |
| 6:45 p.m. | 18:45 | Son las dieciocho cuarenta y cinco. |
| 12:00 a.m. | 00:00 | Son las veinticuatro. |
24-Hour System: After midday (12:00), the numbers continue: 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, etc. This system prevents confusion about morning and evening times and is standard for all official timetables.
Travel in Spain - Viajar en España
Spain has excellent transport infrastructure, particularly for rail travel. Understanding how these systems work will enhance your travel experience and help you make the most of your journeys.
Train travel - Viajar en tren
Spain's national railway company is called RENFE. The country's pride is the AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) high-speed train service, which travels at speeds of up to 186 kilometres per hour. These trains connect major Spanish cities like Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Sevilla. The word "ave" also means "bird" in Spanish, which reflects the train's speed.
Cultural Connection: The name AVE is particularly clever because it not only stands for "Alta Velocidad Española" but also means "bird" in Spanish, symbolising the train's swift movement across the country.
Metro travel - Viajar en metro
Large Spanish cities like Barcelona and Madrid have extensive metro networks. Each metro line has a different colour on the map, making navigation easier. For example, in Madrid, Line 5 is light green and runs from Casa de Campo to Alameda de Osuna. Children under four years old travel free on the metro.
Additional transport vocabulary
| Spanish | Article | English |
|---|---|---|
| el ferrocarril | masculine | railway |
| la alta velocidad | feminine | high speed |
| significar | - | to mean |
| el atasco | masculine | traffic jam |
Ejemplo Práctico: Spanish Transport
- RENFE es la compañía nacional de ferrocarriles. (RENFE is the national railway company.)
- Los trenes AVE viajan a alta velocidad. (AVE trains travel at high speed.)
- Hay un atasco en la carretera. (There's a traffic jam on the road.)
Useful phrases for travel
Here are practical phrases you'll need when travelling. These expressions are commonly used in real travel situations and will help you communicate effectively with transport staff.
Ejemplo Práctico: Travel Dialogues
At check-in:
- ¿En qué le puedo ayudar? (How can I help you?)
- ¿Tiene equipaje para facturar? (Do you have luggage to check in?)
- ¿Quiere pagar en efectivo o con tarjeta? (Do you want to pay in cash or by card?)
At the ticket office:
- ¿En qué le puedo ayudar? (How can I help you?)
- ¿Quiere un billete de ida o de ida y vuelta? (Do you want a one-way or return ticket?)
- ¿Cómo quiere pagar? (How do you want to pay?)
Common expressions:
- ¡El tiempo vuela! (Time flies!)
- Buen viaje. (Have a good trip.)
- De nada. (You're welcome.)
Translation practice
Ejemplo de Práctica: Translation Exercises
Spanish to English:
- Voy a viajar en avión a Barcelona.
- ¿Dónde está la sala de espera?
English to Spanish: 3. I want a return ticket to Madrid. 4. What time does the train arrive?
Common errors and fixes
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Error: Using "por" instead of "en" for transport
- Wrong: Viajo por tren
- ✅ Correct: Viajo en tren (I travel by train)
- Reason: "En" is the correct preposition for means of transport.
❌ Error: Forgetting gender agreements with articles
- Wrong: La pasaporte
- ✅ Correct: El pasaporte (The passport)
- Reason: "Pasaporte" is masculine despite ending in "-e".
❌ Error: Confusing 12-hour and 24-hour time
- Wrong: El tren sale a las 2 de la tarde (when reading 14:00)
- ✅ Correct: El tren sale a las catorce or a las dos de la tarde
- Reason: Be consistent with the time format being used.
Translation answers
Translation Answers:
- I'm going to travel by plane to Barcelona.
- Where is the waiting room?
- Quiero un billete de ida y vuelta a Madrid.
- ¿A qué hora llega el tren?
Key Points to Remember:
- Use "en" + transport method to say how you travel (en avión, en tren, en metro)
- Airport and train station vocabulary includes many cognates that are similar to English
- Spanish transport timetables use the 24-hour clock system
- RENFE operates Spain's railway system, including high-speed AVE trains
- Formal address (usted) is used in service situations like airports and train stations