Auto
/ˈaʊ̯to/neuter
The English phrase 'automobile' is translated into German as Auto. It is also spelled Pkw. Wiktionary also lists Automobil and Kraftfahrzeug.
Meaning: passenger vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | /ˈaʊ̯to/ | neuter |
| Automobil | /aʊ̯tomoˈbiːl/ | neuter |
| Kraftfahrzeug | /ˈkʁaftfaːɐ̯tsɔɪ̯k/ | neuter |
| Personenwagen | masculine | |
| Kraftwagen | [ˈkʁaftvaːɡən] (narrow) | masculine |
| Personenkraftwagen | /pɛʁˈzoːnənˌkʁaftvaːɡn̩/ | masculine |
| PKW | /ˈpeːkaˌveː/ /ˌpeːkaˈveː/ (uncommon) |
masculine |
| Pkw | /ˈpeːkaveː/ | masculine, alternative form |
| Wagen | /ˈvaːɡən/ | masculine |
All provided forms refer to a passenger vehicle.
What does it mean word for word?
Kraftfahrzeug is a compound of Kraft (power/force) and Fahrzeug (vehicle), literally meaning a vehicle powered by a force (engine).
Which one should you use?
Auto is the common, everyday word for automobile, whereas Automobil sounds more technical or formal. PKW (also spelled Pkw) is an abbreviation used primarily in official contexts, such as vehicle registration or traffic laws, to distinguish passenger cars from trucks or motorcycles.
How does it change in a sentence?
Auto is a neuter noun and takes the article das. In contrast, the abbreviation PKW is masculine and takes the article der.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaʊ̯to/
Did you know?
- The word Auto is a clipping of Automobil, which was borrowed into German from French.
- The word Wagen can refer to a car, but it also means a railway carriage or a shopping cart.
- In Germany, the term Personenkraftwagen is so long that it is almost never spoken in full outside of legal documents and official registries.
Examples in context
- Das Auto hielt an.The automobile stopped.This sentence is useful for showing the verb for stopping with Auto.Tatoeba #2291545 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2267957 by _undertoad
- Ein Auto hat vier Räder.An automobile has four wheels.This sentence is useful for describing a characteristic of an Auto.Tatoeba #789231 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #264512 by CM
- Das Auto fährt mit Strom.The automobile runs on electricity.This sentence is useful for stating what an Auto runs on.Tatoeba #841478 by samueldora, translation #46952 by Eldad
- Ich habe mein neues Automobil gestern gekauft.I bought my new automobile yesterday.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are looking at a new vehicle in a parking lot.
- HannahIst das dein neues Auto?Is that your new car?
- FelixJa, das Auto gefällt mir sehr.Yes, I like the car very much.
- HannahEs ist wirklich sehr praktisch.It is really very practical.
- FelixStimmt, das Auto ist toll.True, the car is great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “automobile” translations and entries Auto, Automobil, Kraftfahrzeug, Personenwagen, Kraftwagen, Personenkraftwagen, PKW, Pkw, Wagen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Auto, Automobil, Kraftfahrzeug, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
