General
guagua
What does guagua mean?
The standard Caribbean Spanish word for a bus or public transport, used in Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Canary Islands.
"Voy a coger la guagua para el trabajo."
Origin
Caribbean and Canarian Spanish; disputed etymology, possibly onomatopoeic or from English 'wagon'.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'guagua' mean?
In the Caribbean it means a bus or public transport; in the Andes it means a baby or small child.
Where does 'guagua' come from?
The Caribbean 'bus' sense has a disputed etymology, possibly onomatopoeic or from English 'wagon'; the Andean 'baby' sense comes from Quechua.
Where is 'guagua' used for a bus?
In Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Canary Islands.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
