Italian Phrase
Questo biglietto vale per l'autobus?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether the ticket they are holding can be used on a bus. It’s a polite, neutral‑register question often heard at ticket counters or on the street.
When to use
Use this sentence when you have bought a ticket (or are holding one) and need to confirm if it is valid for bus travel, especially in cities where tickets may be mode‑specific or time‑limited.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Questobigliettovaleperl'autobus?
Questo (demonstrative adjective)
Used to point out a specific noun; it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
biglietto (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning ‘ticket’; the article is omitted because the demonstrative already specifies it.
vale (verb valere)
Third‑person singular present of ‘valere’, meaning ‘to be valid/ worth’. In questions it works like ‘does it work for…?’
per (preposition)
Introduces the purpose or destination of the ticket – ‘for’ or ‘to’.
l'autobus (elision)
The definite article ‘il’ contracts before a vowel, giving l’autobus. It refers to the bus as a mode of transport.
🗨In Conversation
Scusi, questo biglietto vale per l'autobus?
Excuse me, does this ticket work for the bus?
Sì, è valido per tutti i mezzi urbani per 90 minuti.
Yes, it’s valid for all urban transport for 90 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Questo biglietto è per l'autobus?
Using ‘è per’ sounds like you’re stating purpose rather than asking about validity; ‘vale per’ is the idiomatic way to ask if it works.
Questo biglietto vale per autobus?
The article is required before ‘autobus’; the correct form is ‘l'autobus’ (elided ‘il’).
↔Alternatives
Questo biglietto è valido per l'autobus?
Is this ticket valid for the bus?
Posso usare questo biglietto sull'autobus?
Can I use this ticket on the bus?
Questo biglietto serve per l'autobus?
Is this ticket meant for the bus?
Cultural Tip
In many Italian cities tickets are integrated: a single ticket can cover buses, trams, and metros for a set time. However, some regional tickets are mode‑specific, so it’s always worth asking. When speaking to a ticket inspector, keep your ticket handy and use a polite tone – “Scusi” (excuse me) is a common opener.