Sorry, I don't speak Spanish.

In Puerto Rico, why do they call an autobus a "Gaugua"?

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"Supposin' I was to go to work and learn how to... to read writin'. Well, how'd I know that the feller that... that wrote the writin' was a writin' the writin' right? See it could be that he wrote the writin' all wrong. Here I'd be just a readin' wrong writin', don't ya see? You probably been doin' it your whole life, just a readin' wrong writin' and not even knowin‘ it." Festus

Yes, but it's strange that it is common to call an autobus a Guagua in Puerto Rico. At first I thought it was a joke or some kind of baby talk for autobus. They are serious with the use of this word.

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"Supposin' I was to go to work and learn how to... to read writin'. Well, how'd I know that the feller that... that wrote the writin' was a writin' the writin' right? See it could be that he wrote the writin' all wrong. Here I'd be just a readin' wrong writin', don't ya see? You probably been doin' it your whole life, just a readin' wrong writin' and not even knowin‘ it." Festus

In Puerto Rico, why do they call an autobus "guagua".

It`s called "guagua" because the buses were too small at the beginning, so packages,baskets,luggagges etc.
were carried on the top of the bus. The term "guagua " in Chile, means a baby too small to walk but when it`s referring to a kid or an older person, it`s means a tender and loving expression.
When you say to a person you love "Yo soy tu guagua " o "tu eres mi guagua " in Chile, you behaves like a baby, embracing, asking for or giving many and quick kisses. So both connotation may means "too small but nice and loving ".
The bus ,which is very small it`s called "micro " in Chile.

Hi, well "guagua" as I've been always told is a word of Canarian origin (Canary Islands). It has always been used here to refer to buses instead of "autobús". Here we never say "autobús" at all - I mean here we know what the word means, but when somebody says autobús instead of guagua they immediately assume you're from the Peninsula and not the islands. I think it's also used in Latin countries because of the massive Canarian migration decades ago. xDD We have strong cultural links with countries from Latin America, e.g. Venezuela.
Hope this helps.

That's right. My wife is from the Canaries and we visit at least once or twice a year. And you're also correct that the use of 'autobus' identifies you as a 'non-islander'. Of course, they don't have a problem identifying me as such. All they have to do is listen to my accent. :>)

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"Those who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamen Franklin

They are two different words. The RAE (Real Academia Española de la Lengua) says:

guagua1.
(Etim. disc.).

1. f. Cosa baladí.
2. f. Can. y Ant. Vehículo automotor que presta servicio urbano o interurbano en un itinerario fijo.
3. f. Cuba y R. Dom. Nombre genérico de numerosas especies de insectos hemípteros, pequeños, de color blanco o gris, que atacan a numerosas plantas, especialmente a los cítricos, y llegan a destruirlos.


guagua2.
(Del quechua wáwa).

1. f. Á. Andes. Niño de pecho. En Ecuador, u. c. com.
2. f. Perú. Pan dulce con forma de niño.

So the word for "autobús" is no the same which that for "bebé"; they are homonyms (same pronunciation, same spelling, but different meanings.

We have always refered to buses as guaguas. And thsat is the only meaning we attach to such a word, no other. And when due to transporatation problem, the use of bigger "buses" powered by a track came into use, then Cuban started calling them camels, which are always crowed with people. To be honest I rather walk than taking a camel.

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look into my eyeballs, there thy beauty lies, then why not lips on lips since eyes on eyes?

Viviendo y aprendiendo:

Ahora sé que puedo coger el guagua para irme a la faculdad!

Que raro!!! jajaja