How to Ask a Driver in Spanish to Tell You When to Get Off
Learn to say 'Can you tell me when to get off?' in Latin American Spanish, understand the driver's reply, and ask politely for help on buses, shuttles and taxis.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
On a bus or colectivo in Latin America, you often need the driver to warn you before your stop. This lesson teaches one clear, polite request: ¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme? You will also learn to say your destination, understand common confirmations like Sí, claro or Cómo no, and check details such as how many stops remain. The focus is asking for assistance, not giving directions.
By the end, you can…
- ask a driver politely to tell me when to get off.
- say my destination and understand a simple confirmation or follow-up question.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme?
Can you tell me when to get off?
meh PWEH-deh ah-vee-SAR KWAHN-doh bah-HAR-meh
The main request. Use it when you board a bus, shuttle or colectivo and want the driver to warn you before your stop.
Voy a la terminal.
I'm going to the terminal.
boy ah lah tehr-mee-NAHL
Say your destination right after your request so the driver knows which stop you need.
¿Me avisa, por favor?
Will you let me know, please?
meh ah-VEE-sah pohr fah-VOHR
A shorter, very common version. It works when the destination is already clear from context.
¿Cuántas paradas faltan?
How many stops are left?
KWAHN-tahs pah-RAH-dahs FAHL-tahn
Use this to check how far you are from your stop. The driver may answer with a number.
Sí, claro.
Yes, of course.
see KLAH-roh
A typical positive confirmation. It means the driver agrees to help you.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The polite request frame is ¿Me puede + infinitive? It means 'Can you ... for me?' Add the action: ¿Me puede avisar? (Can you let me know?), ¿Me puede decir? (Can you tell me?), ¿Me puede ayudar? (Can you help me?). For 'when to get off', use cuándo bajarme: ¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme? You can also say cuándo me tengo que bajar, which is equally natural in Latin American Spanish.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you board and the driver can still hear you, or when you sit near the front. On a busy bus, say Voy a la terminal first, then ¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme? If the driver answers Sí, claro or Cómo no, that is a confirmation, not a question. If you hear ¿Cuál parada?, the driver is asking which stop; answer with your destination, for example La plaza central.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buenas, ¿me puede avisar cuándo bajarme? Voy a la terminal.
Hello, can you tell me when to get off? I'm going to the terminal.BWEH-nahs meh PWEH-deh ah-vee-SAR KWAHN-doh bah-HAR-meh boy ah lah tehr-mee-NAHLSí, claro. Siéntese adelante.
Yes, of course. Sit up front.see KLAH-roh SYEHN-teh-seh ah-deh-LAHN-tehGracias. ¿Cuántas paradas faltan?
Thank you. How many stops are left?GRAH-syahs KWAHN-tahs pah-RAH-dahs FAHL-tahnFaltan tres. Le aviso.
Three are left. I'll let you know.FAHL-tahn trehs leh ah-VEE-sohA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American cities, buses and colectivos do not announce stops, so asking the driver is normal and expected. Use usted with the driver unless the setting is clearly informal and the driver uses tú first. A greeting such as Buenas or Buenos días before your request sounds polite and helps you be heard.
One thing to watch for
Using ¿Puedo bajar aquí? to ask the driver to tell you when to get off.
Try this instead: ¿Puedo bajar aquí? means 'Can I get off here?' and asks permission at the door. To request a warning, use ¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme? or ¿Me avisa, por favor?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask the driver to tell you when to get off?
Show a sample answer
¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme?
This uses the polite frame ¿Me puede + infinitive? and the phrase cuándo bajarme. ¿Me avisa, por favor? is also correct when the destination is already clear.
2The driver says 'Sí, claro.' What does that mean?
Show a sample answer
Yes, of course.
It is a positive confirmation that the driver agrees to warn you. Cómo no is another common confirmation with the same function.
3How do you ask how many stops are left?
Show a sample answer
¿Cuántas paradas faltan?
This asks how many stops remain. You may also hear ¿Cuánto falta? which asks more generally how much farther it is.
Board, greet the driver, say your destination, then ask ¿Me puede avisar cuándo bajarme? Listen for Sí, claro or Cómo no as confirmation, and check ¿Cuántas paradas faltan? if you want to be sure.
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