guagua

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bus, coach, baby, infant, trinket
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/ˈɡwaɡwa/
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A strongly regional name whose everyday reference is supplied by the place and setting.
Practice using guagua in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • En Chile prepararon la pieza para la guagua.
    In Chile they prepared the room for the baby.
  • La guagua de vidrio estaba sobre la mesa.
    The glass jug was on the table.
  • Las guaguas se extendieron por el huerto.
    The plant bugs spread through the orchard.
  • En Perú compartieron una guagua dulce con la familia.
    In Peru they shared a child-shaped sweet bread with the family.
  • La panadera dio forma de niño a cada guagua.
    The baker shaped every loaf like a child.

Similar words

jarra
tantawawa
chinche
baratija
bus
garrafa
pan de guagua
insecto
lactante
camión

Meanings

Bus in the Canaries and several Atlantic regions

noun
transport
neutral
In the Canary Islands, the Antilles, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, and some nearby varieties, a bus or coach carrying passengers on a fixed or hired route.

Examples

  • En Tenerife tomamos la guagua hasta la playa.
    In Tenerife we took the bus to the beach.
  • La guagua de La Habana venía llena.
    The Havana bus was full.
  • ¿A qué hora pasa la última guagua?
    What time does the last bus pass?
  • Alquilaron una guagua para la excursión escolar.
    They hired a coach for the school trip.
  • En Puerto Rico subimos a la guagua frente a la plaza.
    In Puerto Rico we boarded the bus opposite the square.

Similar words

autobús
bus
ómnibus
autocar
camión
colectivo

Baby in the Andes and Chile

noun
family
informal
In Chile and several Andean regions, a baby or very young child, used for any sex and especially common in everyday family speech.

Examples

  • La guagua se quedó dormida en brazos de su madre.
    The baby fell asleep in her mother’s arms.
  • En Chile prepararon la pieza para la guagua.
    In Chile they prepared the room for the baby.
  • El guagua no deja de llorar porque tiene hambre.
    The baby will not stop crying because he is hungry.
  • La médica examinó a la guagua recién nacida.
    The doctor examined the newborn baby.
  • En Ecuador toda la familia fue a conocer a la guagua.
    In Ecuador the whole family went to meet the baby.

Similar words

bebé
crío
bebe
lactante
recién nacido

Trivial thing or trinket

noun
everyday
neutral
A small, unimportant thing, sometimes a cheap object or minor concern.

Examples

  • No gastes el sueldo en guaguas sin valor.
    Do not spend your salary on worthless trinkets.
  • Me regaló una guagua, pero agradecí el gesto.
    He gave me a little something, but I appreciated the gesture.
  • Esa discusión empezó por una guagua.
    That argument started over a trivial thing.
  • La caja estaba llena de guaguas antiguas.
    The box was full of old trinkets.
  • No perdamos tiempo con guaguas.
    Let us not waste time on trivialities.

Similar words

bagatela
minucia
nimiedad
nadería
baratija

Plant pest in Cuba and the Dominican Republic

noun
agriculture
neutral
In Cuba and the Dominican Republic, a general name for several small pale plant bugs that attack crops, especially citrus trees.

Examples

  • La guagua cubrió de puntos blancos las hojas del naranjo.
    The plant bugs covered the orange-tree leaves in white spots.
  • En Cuba vigilan la guagua que ataca los cítricos.
    In Cuba they monitor the pest that attacks citrus trees.
  • La plaga de guaguas dañó varias plantas.
    The plant-bug infestation damaged several plants.
  • El agricultor trató el árbol contra la guagua.
    The farmer treated the tree against the pest.
  • Las guaguas se extendieron por el huerto.
    The plant bugs spread through the orchard.

Similar words

chinche
insecto
plaga

Child-shaped sweet bread in Ecuador and Peru

noun
food
neutral
In Ecuador and Peru, a sweet loaf shaped and often decorated like a child, traditionally made for commemorative celebrations.

Examples

  • En Ecuador decoraron una guagua de pan con colores.
    In Ecuador they decorated a child-shaped sweet bread with colors.
  • Compramos guaguas para la celebración de Difuntos.
    We bought child-shaped sweet breads for the Day of the Dead celebration.
  • La panadera dio forma de niño a cada guagua.
    The baker shaped every loaf like a child.
  • En Perú compartieron una guagua dulce con la familia.
    In Peru they shared a child-shaped sweet bread with the family.
  • Las guaguas salieron doradas del horno.
    The child-shaped loaves came out of the oven golden.

Similar words

pan de guagua
tantawawa

Large jug in Chile

noun
household
neutral
In Chile, a large container or jug used to hold and pour water or another liquid.

Examples

  • En Chile llenaron la guagua con agua fresca.
    In Chile they filled the large jug with fresh water.
  • La guagua de vidrio estaba sobre la mesa.
    The glass jug was on the table.
  • Trae la guagua para servir la bebida.
    Bring the jug to serve the drink.
  • El asa de la guagua se rompió.
    The jug’s handle broke.
  • Guardaban el agua en una guagua grande.
    They kept the water in a large jug.

Similar words

jarra
cántaro
garrafa
botellón

Etymology

The baby sense comes from Quechua wawa, “infant.” The origins of the bus and trivial-thing senses are disputed, with proposals including a horn imitation and English wagon.

FAQ

What does guagua mean?

Depending on the region, guagua can mean a bus, a baby, a trivial thing, a plant pest, a shaped sweet bread, or a large jug.

Where does guagua mean “bus”?

It is ordinary in the Canary Islands and parts of the Caribbean, and is also recorded in Guatemala and Equatorial Guinea.

Where does guagua mean “baby”?

It is used in Chile and several Andean regions, including parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Is guagua masculine or feminine?

It is normally feminine. For the baby sense, Ecuador also uses it as either masculine or feminine according to the child’s sex.

What is the plural of guagua?

The regular plural is guaguas.

How can the bus and baby meanings be distinguished?

The region and context make the intended sense clear, such as tomar la guagua for transport or la guagua recién nacida for a baby.

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