At the bus station, a screen shows the departures. Learn to read it, and to ask when and where your bus leaves and when it arrives.
Your turn
At the station you see these two signs. What do they mean?
Salidas / Llegadas
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Departures and arrivals. salir is to leave, llegar to arrive.
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The main idea
Key idea
On the board, find Destino (where it goes), Hora (when it leaves) and Andén (where you board). To ask, say ¿A qué hora sale…? , ¿De qué andén sale? and ¿A qué hora llega a…?
Word Meaning Salidas departures Llegadas arrivals Destino destination Hora time Andén gate, the bay where you board Estado status A tiempo on time Retrasado delayed Abordando boarding
andén sounds like ahn-DEN .
Read: the board
On Saturday morning, Ben looks at the departures board.
Salidas
Hora Destino Andén Estado 07:45 Veracruz 3 Abordando 08:00 Puebla 5 A tiempo 08:15 Oaxaca 2 Retrasado 08:30 Puebla 5 A tiempo
Your turn
Ben's bus to Puebla leaves at 8:00. Which gate?
El andén cinco.
El andén dos.
El andén tres.
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Your turn
El autobús a Puebla.
El autobús a Oaxaca.
El autobús a Veracruz.
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Retrasado : delayed. The bus to Veracruz is boarding: Abordando .
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Ask about your bus
¿A qué hora sale el autobús a Puebla?
What time does the bus to Puebla leave?
Sale a las ocho.
It leaves at eight.
¿De qué andén sale?
Which gate does it leave from?
Del andén cinco.
From gate five.
¿Es directo?
Is it direct?
¿A qué hora llega a Puebla?
What time does it get to Puebla?
Salgo el sábado a las ocho.
I'm leaving on Saturday at eight.
Llego a Puebla a las diez.
I get to Puebla at ten.
salir (to leave) is salgo for I and sale for the bus. llegar takes a , as you know: llega a Puebla . de and el join into del : del andén cinco .
Ben: Disculpe, ¿de qué andén sale el autobús de las ocho a Puebla?
Excuse me, which gate does the eight o'clock bus to Puebla leave from?
Empleada: Del andén cinco.
From gate five.
Ben: ¿Es directo?
Is it direct?
Empleada: Sí, es directo.
Yes, it's direct.
Ben: ¿Y a qué hora llega a Puebla?
And what time does it get to Puebla?
Empleada: A las diez y cuarto, más o menos.
At about a quarter past ten.
Compared with English
English says the bus is late :
The bus is twenty minutes late.
Spanish says it leaves with a delay:
Sale con veinte minutos de retraso.
It's leaving twenty minutes late.
Quick check
Your turn
Ask what time the bus leaves, with salir :
¿A qué hora el autobús a Puebla?
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¿A qué hora sale el autobús a Puebla?
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Your turn
Say that you get to Puebla at ten. Complete: ___ a Puebla a las diez.
Llego
Salgo
Llega
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I arrive: llego . salgo is I leave , and llega is for the bus or someone else.
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Your turn
You want to know whether the bus makes stops on the way. Ask:
¿Es directo?
¿Está lejos?
¿De qué andén sale?
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Check the accents.
¿Es directo? : Is it direct?
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Your turn
The board says Retrasado . What does it mean?
Sale con retraso.
Sale a tiempo.
Está abordando.
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Your turn
At the information desk, ask which gate the bus to Oaxaca leaves from and what time it arrives.
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Disculpe, ¿de qué andén sale el autobús a Oaxaca? ¿A qué hora llega?
¿De qué andén sale el autobús a Oaxaca? ¿Y a qué hora llega a Oaxaca?
¿De qué andén sale…? and ¿A qué hora llega?
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Take with you
¿A qué hora sale el autobús a Puebla?
What time does the bus to Puebla leave?
¿De qué andén sale?
Which gate does it leave from?
¿Es directo?
Is it direct?
¿A qué hora llega a Puebla?
What time does it get to Puebla?
Salgo el sábado a las ocho.
I'm leaving on Saturday at eight.
Sale con veinte minutos de retraso.
It's leaving twenty minutes late.
sale for when it leaves, llega for when it arrives, and andén for where you board.