Vehicles

1. o coche

   Car

   Usage

   The everyday word for a car. "Automóbil" is the more formal synonym

   Grammar Note

   "Coche" is masculine. "Carro" in Galician means a cart, not a car.

2. o autobús

   City bus

   Usage

   The urban bus. The stop is "a parada de autobús". Portuguese "autocarro" is not used

   Grammar Note

   The accent is on ú. The plural is "autobuses".

3. o autocar

   Coach

   Usage

   The long-distance coach. The dictionary defines it as a vehicle for passenger transport outside the city. The terminal is "a estación de autobuses"

   Grammar Note

   Use "autobús" for the city bus and "autocar" for the coach.

4. o tren

   Train

   Usage

   The station is "a estación de tren". Portuguese "comboio" is not used

   Grammar Note

   The plural is "trens" (-n becomes -ns).

5. o Alvia

   Alvia (Renfe train)

   Usage

   A Renfe long-distance train brand that links Galician cities with places such as Madrid. Seats are usually reserved, so book ahead

   Grammar Note

   The train brand is a proper name and keeps its capital; it takes the masculine "o".

6. o AVE

   AVE (high-speed train)

   Usage

   Renfe's high-speed train; several Galician cities are linked to Madrid by it. Buy the ticket in advance

   Grammar Note

   The acronym is written in capitals; "ave" in lowercase is the word for bird.

7. Cercanías

   Commuter train (Cercanías)

   Usage

   The name of Renfe's commuter train network, which also runs in Galicia. It appears on ticket machines and signs

   Grammar Note

   It is a network name, so it is written without an article. The Galician network is "Cercanías Galicia".

8. o taxi

   Taxi

   Usage

   Ask the hotel: "Pode chamarme un taxi, por favor?" The meter is "o taxímetro"

   Grammar Note

   "Taxi" is pronounced with [ks]. The plural is "taxis".

9. a moto

   Motorcycle

   Usage

   Short for "motocicleta". To rent one: "Quero alugar unha moto"

   Grammar Note

   "Moto" is feminine because it shortens "motocicleta".

10. a bicicleta

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Many pilgrims travel the Way by bicycle. To ask: "Onde se pode alugar unha bicicleta?"

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "bicicletas".

11. o patinete eléctrico

    E-scooter

    Usage

    A rental e-scooter in city streets. The dictionary defines plain "patinete" as a child's toy, so "eléctrico" is added

    Grammar Note

    The adjective "eléctrico" follows the noun and agrees in gender.

12. o avión

    Airplane

    Usage

    The airport is "o aeroporto". Galicia has airports at Santiago, Vigo and A Coruña

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "avións".

13. o barco

    Boat

    Usage

    Anything from a small craft to a sightseeing boat. A big ship is "o buque" or "o navío"

    Grammar Note

    "barco" is masculine, so it takes "o".

14. o transbordador

    Ferry

    Usage

    A vehicle that carries people or goods across a river or strait, as the dictionary defines it. The English "ferry" is not a dictionary headword

    Grammar Note

    "Transbordador" comes from "transbordar" (to carry across).

15. Hai barco ás illas Cíes?

    Is there a boat to the Cíes Islands?

    Usage

    Used to ask about boats to the islands off Vigo. The Galician name is "Illas Cíes" (Spanish "Islas Cíes")

    Grammar Note

    "Hai" is invariable for singular and plural. "Ás" contracts the preposition "a" with "as".

16. a ambulancia

    Ambulance

    Usage

    In an emergency: "Chame unha ambulancia, por favor". The emergency number in Spain is 112

    Grammar Note

    "ambulancia" is feminine, so it takes "a".

17. Quero alugar un coche

    I would like to rent a car

    Usage

    Say it at the car-hire desk. You will need your driving licence and ID

    Grammar Note

    "Alugar" is the Galician verb, not Spanish "alquilar". The pattern is querer + infinitive.

18. o camión

    Truck

    Usage

    Common on the roads; overtake with care

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "camións".

19. a autocaravana

    Campervan / Motorhome

    Usage

    Many coastal towns have parking areas for motorhomes

    Grammar Note

    Compound of "auto" and "caravana"; plain "caravana" in the dictionary means a desert-style caravan.

20. a furgoneta

    Van

    Usage

    A small vehicle for carrying goods

    Grammar Note

    "furgoneta" is feminine, so it takes "a".

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