Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| voiture | /vwa.tyʁ/ | feminine |
| auto | /o.to/ /ɔ.to/ |
feminine |
| automobile | /o.tɔ.mɔ.bil/ /ɔ.tɔ.mɔ.bil/ |
feminine |
| char | /ʃaʁ/ /ʃɑʁ/ (Quebec) |
Canada, masculine |
The terms used to describe a passenger vehicle in French range from standard everyday language to technical, slang and regional terms. voiture is the standard, everyday word for a car. automobile is used in formal contexts, such as technical or legal documents and véhicule can also be used formally to refer to an automobile. For a fast and sporty automobile, you might use the informal term bolide. Slang terms for a car include bagnole and caisse.
Which one should you use?
While automobile is technically correct, voiture is the standard word used for a car in daily life. auto is a common shortened form used in more casual or journalistic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
voiture is the most common and standard term. automobile is more formal and suited for technical or legal documents. auto is used in casual or journalistic settings. For slang, you can use bagnole or caisse, while bolide is an informal way to describe a fast car.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada, particularly in Quebec, char is a common colloquial term for a car. In France, however, char refers to a tank or a chariot.
How does it change in a sentence?
voiture is a feminine noun. Its plural form is voitures, created by adding an 's'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of voiture is /vwa.tyʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word bolide refers to a very fast car, but in astronomy, it also describes a brilliant meteor that explodes in the atmosphere.
- The term caisse is used as slang for a car, but in a literal sense, it actually means a 'box' or a 'crate'.
- The word 'automobile' is a perfect compound of the Greek 'autós', meaning 'self', and the Latin 'mobilis', meaning 'moving'.
Examples in context
- Une automobile a quatre roues.An automobile has four wheels.This sentence shows the use of auto.Tatoeba #11710360 by lbdx, translation #264512 by CM
- Cette voiture roulait très vite.That automobile was going very fast.This sentence shows the use of voiture.Tatoeba #6863797 by GB3, translation #2267795 by _undertoad
- J'ai récemment eu un accident de voiture.I was recently in an automobile accident.Tatoeba #11461277 by Aiji, translation #243856 by CK
- La voiture est un moyen de transport essentiel.The automobile is an essential means of transportation.
- L'industrie de l'automobile a connu une croissance significative.The automobile industry has experienced significant growth.
- Le propriétaire du véhicule doit fournir les documents nécessaires.The owner of the automobile must provide the necessary documents.
- J'adore ma petite bagnole, elle est très pratique en ville!I love my little car, it's very practical in the city!
- On se retrouve à la sortie, près de ma caisse.Let's meet at the exit, near my car.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are standing in a parking lot.
- NathanOù est ta voiture, Léa ?Where is your car, Léa?
- LéaMa voiture est garée là-bas.My car is parked over there.
- NathanEst-ce que c'est une nouvelle voiture ?Is it a new car?
- LéaOui, j'ai acheté cette voiture hier.Yes, I bought this car yesterday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “automobile” translations and entries voiture, auto, automobile, char, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auto, automobile, char, voiture, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
