Getting across the city by public transport in Spanish
¿Qué línea tengo que coger para ir al Prado?
“Which line do I take to get to the Prado?”
When: Asking a passerby how to get somewhere
The moment
You are in the lobby of your Madrid hotel with one hour before the Prado closes. You have to ask a passerby which transport to take, buy the ticket yourself, and check on the platform that you are heading the right way.
A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Which line do I take?
Stop someone and ask "¿Qué línea tengo que coger para ir al Prado?", swapping in any place. In Spain coger is the everyday word for taking a line, a bus or a taxi.
¿Qué línea tengo que coger para ir al Prado?
“Which line do I take to get to the Prado?”
When to use it: Asking a passerby how to get somewhere
What you’ll hear back: Coge la línea 2 y bájate en Banco de España. (Take line 2 and get off at Banco de España.)
Checking you are going the right way
On the platform, point at the train and ask "Perdone, ¿este tren va a Sol?" One short question saves you twenty minutes in the wrong direction.
Perdone, ¿este tren va a Sol?
“Excuse me, does this train go to Sol?”
When to use it: On the platform, just before you get on
What you’ll hear back: Sí, sí, es este. (Yes, this is the one.)
Words for this scene
| Spanish | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Un billete de ida y vuelta, por favor. | oon bee-YEH-teh deh EE-dah ee BWEHL-tah por fah-BOR | A return ticket, please. |
Un billete de ida y vuelta a Toledo, por favor. A return ticket to Toledo, please. Tip: In Spain it is billete; boleto instantly marks you as a tourist. | ||
| ¿Hay que hacer transbordo? | eye keh ah-THEHR trahns-BOR-doh | Do I have to change lines? |
Para ir al Prado, ¿hay que hacer transbordo? To get to the Prado, do I have to change lines? Tip: Changing lines inside the metro costs nothing extra in Madrid. | ||
| A la Puerta del Sol, por favor. | ah lah PWEHR-tah del SOL por fah-BOR | To the Puerta del Sol, please. |
Buenas tardes. A la Puerta del Sol, por favor. Good afternoon. To the Puerta del Sol, please. Tip: Plan B if you run late: taxis here are metered, never haggled. | ||
Your objective
Ask a passerby how to get there, buy your ticket, then check with someone on the platform that it’s the right train.
- how to get there
- your ticket
- checking it’s the right train
Lines that get it done
- ¿Qué línea tengo que coger para ir al Prado?
- Un billete de ida y vuelta, por favor. · A return ticket, please.
- Perdone, ¿este tren va a Sol?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You stop someone outside your hotel to find out how to reach the Prado. What do you ask?
- ¿Qué línea tengo que coger para ir al Prado?
- ¿Qué billete tengo que coger para ir al Prado?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta la línea para ir al Prado?
- ¿Qué andén hay en el Prado?
Show the answer
¿Qué línea tengo que coger para ir al Prado?
Línea is the metro or bus line, which is what you need before buying anything.
2. You are on the platform and want to be sure this train goes to Sol. What do you say?
- Perdone, ¿este tren va a Sol?
- Perdone, ¿este tren sale de Sol?
- Perdone, ¿dónde está Sol?
- Perdone, ¿este tren es rápido?
Show the answer
Perdone, ¿este tren va a Sol?
Va a asks where the train is heading; sale de would ask where it comes from.
3. You give up on the metro, take a taxi, and want to pay by card. What do you ask?
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
- ¿Puedo pagar con billete?
- ¿Quiere pagar con tarjeta?
- ¿Puedo pagar el andén?
Show the answer
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Puedo asks about you; quiere would be asking the driver if he wants to pay.