Portuguese Phrase
Pego o ônibus.
Meaning
‘I catch the bus.’ The speaker is saying that they board or take the bus, either as a habit (e.g., ‘I usually catch the bus’) or as a specific action (e.g., ‘I’m about to catch the bus’).
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone how you get around, when you’re describing your daily routine, or when you’re confirming that you’ll be on a particular bus at a given time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pegooônibus
Pego (verbo pegar)
Verbo regular da 1ª conjugação; aqui está no presente do indicativo, 1ª pessoa do singular, significando ‘pegar/embarcar’ em transporte.
o (artigo definido)
Artigo masculino singular que acompanha substantivos determinados; usado antes de ‘ônibus’.
ônibus (substantivo)
Substantivo masculino singular que designa o veículo de transporte coletivo urbano.
🗨In Conversation
Que horas chega o próximo ônibus?
What time does the next bus arrive?
Eu pego o ônibus às oito.
I catch the bus at eight.
✕Common Mistakes
Pego o onibus.
Missing the tilde on the ‘õ’; the correct spelling is ‘ônibus’.
Pego o ônibus ontem.
Using ‘pego’ for past action; the past of ‘pegar’ is ‘peguei’. For a past event you would say ‘Peguei o ônibus.’
Pego o ônibus e fico doente.
Confusing ‘pegar’ with ‘pegar’ meaning ‘to catch (a cold)’. In transportation contexts, ‘pegar’ is correct; avoid using ‘pego o ônibus’ when you actually mean ‘I catch a cold.’
↔Alternatives
Eu embarco no ônibus.
I board the bus.
Eu tomo o ônibus.
I take the bus.
Eu ando de ônibus.
I go by bus.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘pegar o ônibus’ is the most common way to say you ride a bus. The verb ‘pegar’ literally means ‘to grab’, but in the context of transportation it means ‘to board’. In some regions you’ll also hear ‘andar de ônibus’ (to go by bus) or ‘embarcar no ônibus’ (to board the bus), which sound a bit more formal. Remember that the word ‘ônibus’ always takes the masculine article ‘o’, even though its ending looks feminine.