Italian Phrase
Cerca il simbolo dell'autobus.
Meaning
The sentence is a polite command meaning “Look for the bus symbol.” It is often used when giving directions to a sign, a map legend, or a digital interface where the bus icon indicates public transport routes.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want someone to locate the little bus icon on a city map, a transport app, or a street sign. It’s common in travel situations, at information desks, or when guiding a tourist through a transit system.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cercailsimbolodell'autobus.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
Cerca is the informal command form of cercare, used when you tell someone 'look' or 'search'.
Definite article il
Il is the masculine singular definite article, placed before a masculine noun like simbolo.
Contraction di + il → dell'
When the preposition di (of) meets the article il, they contract to dell' before a vowel.
Noun gender – autobus
Autobus is a masculine noun, so it takes the article il (or the contracted dell' after di).
🗨In Conversation
Scusi, dove posso trovare le linee dei bus?
Excuse me, where can I find the bus lines?
Cerca il simbolo dell'autobus sulla mappa qui a sinistra.
Look for the bus symbol on the map on the left.
✕Common Mistakes
Cerca di il simbolo dell'autobus.
Do not add ‘di’ after the imperative; ‘cerca’ already means ‘look for’.
Cerca il simbolo del autobus.
The correct contraction before a vowel is ‘dell’’, not ‘del’.
Cerca il simbolo dell'Autobus.
Capitalize only proper nouns; ‘autobus’ is a common noun.
↔Alternatives
Trova il simbolo dell'autobus.
Find the bus symbol.
Cerca l'icona dell'autobus.
Search for the bus icon.
Individua il simbolo del bus.
Spot the bus symbol.
Cultural Tip
In Italian cities, the bus symbol is usually a stylised white bus on a blue background, similar to many European transit icons. On paper maps it often appears as a small rectangle with wheels. When speaking to locals, using the informal imperative (Cerca) is perfectly acceptable in casual settings, but in formal contexts you might say “Cerchi il simbolo dell'autobus, per favore.”