Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Subimos al autobús en la parada del barrio. - We get on the bus at the neighborhood stop.

Subir al autobús = to get on the bus / board the bus
Montar en el autobús is understandable but sounds less natural in Spain in this context.
Coger el autobús in Spain means to catch/take the bus (not specifically the act of stepping onto it).

So subimos al autobús focuses on the physical action of getting on.

What tense is subimos? Is it present or past?

Subimos can be either:

Present, 1st person plural: we get on / we go up
Preterite, 1st person plural: we got on / we went up

The form is the same for -ir verbs in nosotros.
Only context tells you whether it means we get on or we got on.

Why is the subject we (nosotros) missing?

In Spanish, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the subject.

Subimos already tells you it is we (nosotros).
Nosotros subimos al autobús… is also correct but usually only used for emphasis or contrast, e.g.:
- Nosotros subimos al autobús, pero ellos se quedaron.
  We got on the bus, but they stayed.

What does al autobús mean, and why al instead of a el?

Al is the contraction of a + el:

a + el autobús → al autobús

You must use the contraction al, not a el:

✅ Subimos al autobús
❌ Subimos a el autobús (incorrect)

Why is it subimos al autobús and not subimos en el autobús?

Different prepositions express different ideas:

Subir a (or subirse a) = to get on / board something:
- Subimos al autobús. – We get on the bus.
Ir en = to travel by a means of transport:
- Vamos en autobús. – We go by bus.

So:

Subimos al autobús = we step onto the bus.
Vamos en autobús = we travel by bus.

Subir en el autobús is not the natural way to say get on the bus.

What is the difference between subir al autobús and subirse al autobús?

Both can mean to get on the bus, but there are nuances:

In Spain, with vehicles, subir al autobús (non‑reflexive) is very common and totally natural.
Subirse al autobús (reflexive) can:
- Sound a bit more colloquial or emphatic, or
- Emphasize the whole action of getting fully on.

In most everyday contexts in Spain:

Subimos al autobús and nos subimos al autobús are effectively understood the same.

Why is it la parada and not just parada?

Spanish normally uses a definite article (el, la, los, las) where English often uses the or even no article.

Here you are talking about a specific stop, the one in your neighborhood:

en la parada del barrio = at the (specific) stop in the neighborhood

Saying just en parada del barrio would sound incomplete or wrong in standard Spanish.

What exactly does parada mean here? How is it different from estación?

In this context:

parada = stop (for buses, trams, some local transport)
estación = station (for trains, metro, long‑distance buses, etc.)

So you say:

parada de autobús – bus stop
estación de tren – train station
estación de metro – metro/subway station

What does del barrio mean, and why del?

Del is the contraction of de + el:

de + el barrio → del barrio

Del barrio means of the neighborhood / in the neighborhood:

la parada del barrio = the neighborhood bus stop / the stop in the neighborhood

So the full chunk is:

en la parada del barrio = at the bus stop in the neighborhood

What does barrio mean in Spain? Is it exactly “neighborhood”?

Barrio is usually translated as neighborhood, but its use can vary:

In cities, barrio = a defined area or district within the city.
It can feel like: area / district / neighborhood, depending on context.

Compared to English:

barrio is more official/defined than the vague English neighborhood, which can just mean “around where I live.”
There are also named barrios, like el barrio de Salamanca in Madrid.

But in everyday speech, thinking of barrio as neighborhood works well.

Could I move en la parada del barrio to the beginning of the sentence?

Yes. Spanish word order is flexible. Both are correct:

Subimos al autobús en la parada del barrio.
En la parada del barrio, subimos al autobús.

The meaning is the same; the second just emphasizes the place a bit more.

How would I change the sentence for different subjects (I, you, they, etc.)?

The structure stays the same; only subimos changes:

Yo subo al autobús en la parada del barrio. – I get on…
Tú subes al autobús… – You (singular, informal) get on…
Él / Ella sube al autobús… – He/She gets on…
Nosotros subimos al autobús… – We get on…
Vosotros subís al autobús… – You all (informal plural, Spain) get on…
Ellos / Ellas suben al autobús… – They get on…

Why does autobús have an accent on the ú?

Spanish stress rules:

Words ending in -n, -s, or a vowel are normally stressed on the second‑to‑last syllable.
autobus (without accent) would be stressed AU-to-bus.
But the correct pronunciation is au-to-BÚS (last syllable stressed), so it needs a written accent:
- autobús

The accent mark forces the stress onto the last syllable.