Vocabulary - journeys and modes of transport
Transport
Spain has a large variety of public transport options, much like the UK, including an extensive bus, coach and train network.
Image caption, un camión
A lorry
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Here is some useful vocabulary for describing journeys and modes of transport.
| antiguo/a | old |
| barato/a | cheap |
| caro/a | dear/expensive |
| lento/a | slow |
| rápido/a | fast |
| cómodo/a | comfortable/convenient |
| incómodo/a | uncomfortable |
| moderno/a | modern |
| práctico/a | practical/convenient |
| ruidoso/a | noisy |
| tranquilo/a | quiet |
| viejo/a | old |
| el aeropuerto | airport |
| la estación de trenes | train station |
| la estación de autobuses | bus station |
| el vuelo | flight |
| ¿Dónde está ...? | Where is ...? |
| antiguo/a |
| old |
| barato/a |
| cheap |
| caro/a |
| dear/expensive |
| lento/a |
| slow |
| rápido/a |
| fast |
| cómodo/a |
| comfortable/convenient |
| incómodo/a |
| uncomfortable |
| moderno/a |
| modern |
| práctico/a |
| practical/convenient |
| ruidoso/a |
| noisy |
| tranquilo/a |
| quiet |
| viejo/a |
| old |
| el aeropuerto |
| airport |
| la estación de trenes |
| train station |
| la estación de autobuses |
| bus station |
| el vuelo |
| flight |
| ¿Dónde está ...? |
| Where is ...? |
And here are some useful verbs to use when you are talking about travelling.
| bajar | to get off/go down |
| circular | to go along (in a car)/drive around |
| esperar | to wait |
| hacer cola | to queue up |
| llegar (a) | to arrive (at) |
| llevar | to carry |
| mojarse | to get wet |
| pagar | to pay for |
| olvidar | to forget |
| recoger | to pick up |
| salir (de) | to leave |
| subir | to get on/go up |
| viajar | to travel |
| volar | to fly |
| bajar |
| to get off/go down |
| circular |
| to go along (in a car)/drive around |
| esperar |
| to wait |
| hacer cola |
| to queue up |
| llegar (a) |
| to arrive (at) |
| llevar |
| to carry |
| mojarse |
| to get wet |
| pagar |
| to pay for |
| olvidar |
| to forget |
| recoger |
| to pick up |
| salir (de) |
| to leave |
| subir |
| to get on/go up |
| viajar |
| to travel |
| volar |
| to fly |
Read these passengers' opinions about different forms of travel. What do they say about the advantages and disadvantages?
Write the answers in English.
Question
La bicicleta es un modo de transporte muy saludable, pero es lento y, si llueve, te mojas. Prefiero viajar en metro porque es un modo de transporte muy práctico y los trenes son modernos. Sin embargo, pienso que los billetes son caros.
Complete the table with one advantage and one disadvantage for each mode of transport.
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| bicycle | ||
| underground |
| Transport | bicycle |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantage |
| Transport | underground |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantage |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| bicycle | healthy | slow/you get wet when it rains |
| underground | practical/modern | tickets are expensive |
| Transport | bicycle |
|---|---|
| Advantage | healthy |
| Disadvantage | slow/you get wet when it rains |
| Transport | underground |
|---|---|
| Advantage | practical/modern |
| Disadvantage | tickets are expensive |
Translation:
The bicycle is a very healthy means of transport, but it's slow and, if it rains, you get wet. I prefer travelling on the underground because it's a very practical mode of transport and the trains are modern. However, I think the tickets are expensive.
Question
No me gusta viajar en autobús. Es lento y bastante incómodo. En cambio, es barato. El tranvía aquí en esta ciudad es muy rápido. Es mas cómodo que el autobús, pero es un poco ruidoso.
Complete the table with one advantage and one disadvantage for each mode of transport.
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| bus | ||
| tram |
| Transport | bus |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantage |
| Transport | tram |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantage |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| bus | cheap | slow/uncomfortable |
| tram | fast/comfortable | noisy |
| Transport | bus |
|---|---|
| Advantage | cheap |
| Disadvantage | slow/uncomfortable |
| Transport | tram |
|---|---|
| Advantage | fast/comfortable |
| Disadvantage | noisy |
Translation:
I don't like travelling by bus. It's slow and quite uncomfortable. On the other hand, it's cheap. The tram here in this city is very fast. It's more comfortable than the bus, but it's a bit noisy.