Public Transport

1. Mba'e colectivopa oho táva mbytépe?

   Mba-'e co-lec-ti-vo-pa o-ho tá-va mby-té-pe?

   Which bus goes to the city center?

   Usage

   Used at a bus stop to find the correct bus to the city center

   Grammar Note

   The city bus is called colectivo in everyday speech; mbyte means "middle", so táva mbytépe is "in the centre of town"

2. Mboýpa parada oĩ [tenda] peve?

   Mboý-pa pa-ra-da o-ĩ [ten-da] pe-ve?

   How many stops to [destination]?

   Usage

   Used to ask how many stops to the destination

   Grammar Note

   "mboy" (how many) + "-pa" (question particle). Replace [tenda] (place) with the destination. "Parada" (stop) is a Spanish loanword

3. Chemboguejymína ko'ápe, ikatúrõ.

   Che-mbo-gue-jy-mí-na ko-'á-pe, i-ka-tú-rõ.

   Please let me off here.

   Usage

   Used to ask the driver to let you off here

   Grammar Note

   che- (me) + mbo- (causative) + guejy (to get down) = "let me off"; -mína softens the request

4. Oĩpa oguapýva ko apykápe?

   O-ĩ-pa o-gua-pý-va ko a-py-ká-pe?

   Is this seat taken?

   Usage

   Used to check if a seat is occupied

   Grammar Note

   apyka is "seat" and guapy is "to sit"; the natural question is "is anyone sitting here?"

5. Mba'e órapa osẽ colectivo paha?

   Mba-'e ó-ra-pa o-sẽ co-lec-ti-vo pa-ha?

   What time is the last bus?

   Usage

   Used to find out when the last bus departs

   Grammar Note

   "paha" means "end / last"; clock time is asked with the Spanish loan óra, as mba'e órapa

6. Moõpa ikatu ajogua pasaje?

   Mo-õ-pa i-ka-tu a-jo-gua pa-sa-je?

   Where can I buy a ticket?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to purchase a transport ticket

   Grammar Note

   "ikatu" expresses possibility; a bus ticket is normally called by the Spanish loan pasaje

7. Ko colectivo opytápa ñemuhápe?

   Ko co-lec-ti-vo o-py-tá-pa ñe-mu-há-pe?

   Does this bus stop at the market?

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether the bus stops at the market

   Grammar Note

   ñemu (to trade) + -ha (place) = ñemuha "market / shop"; pyta means "to stop / stay"

8. Mba'e andénguipa osẽta?

   Mba-'e an-dén-gui-pa o-sẽ-ta?

   Which platform does it depart from?

   Usage

   Used at a station to find the departure platform

   Grammar Note

   "-gui" is the postposition "from"; departure is expressed with sẽ (to go out). mano means "to die" and must never be used here

9. Oĩpa peteĩ tape directo?

   O-ĩ-pa pe-teĩ ta-pe di-rec-to?

   Is there a direct route?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is a direct route

   Grammar Note

   "-pa" is a question suffix in Guaraní

10. Mboy órapa hi'are ñaguahẽ hag̃ua?

    Mboy ó-ra-pa hi-'a-re ña-gua-hẽ ha-g̃ua?

    How long does the journey take?

    Usage

    Used to ask the duration of the journey

    Grammar Note

    "hi'are + duration + verb + hag̃ua" means "it takes ... to ..."; ña- is the inclusive first-person plural prefix

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