מכונית
mekhonit
The Hebrew word for automobile is מכונית (mekhonit).
The word מכונית refers to a passenger vehicle or car. You can use the phrase מכונית משפחתית to specifically describe a family car or a station wagon.
Meaning: passenger vehicle (noun)
Which one should you use?
While מכונית refers specifically to a car, the term רכב is a broader word used to mean any vehicle.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In everyday, colloquial speech, people often use the informal word אוטו.
How does it change in a sentence?
מכונית is a feminine noun. Its plural form is מכוניות.
How do you pronounce it?
mekhonit
Did you know?
- Because the root of מכונית is shared with the word מכון, which can mean 'institute' or 'establishment', the word's structure links a car to the idea of a fixed or established mechanism.
- In Hebrew, the word מכונית is feminine, but the more colloquial term אוטו is masculine. This means the adjective must change gender depending on which word for 'car' you choose.
- In Israel, the colloquial term אוטו is not just a slang word but is a direct phonetic loan from the German 'Auto'.
Examples in context
- בארה"ב מכונית היא הכרח ולא מותרות.In the United States the automobile is a necessity and not a luxury.This sentence illustrates the use of מכונית to discuss the necessity of an automobile in the United States.Tatoeba #615355 by Eldad, translation #67623 by Eldad
- המכונית שלי היא כחולה.My car is blue.
- האדם שנכנס למכונית פנה ימינה.The person who entered the car turned right.
- אנחנו הולכים לעשות טיול באוטו של יוסי.We're going on a trip in Yossi's car.
- הוא קנה מכונית חדשה.hu kana mekhonit khadasha.He bought a new automobile.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noam and Rotem are talking about a car for sale.
- נועם Noamהאם המכונית הזו עדיין למכירה?ha-im hamekhonit ha-zo adayin le-mekhira?Is this automobile still for sale?
- רוטם Rotemכן, היא עדיין זמינה.ken, hi adayin zemina.Yes, it is still available.
- נועם Noamהיא נראית כמו מכונית מצוינת.hi nir'et kmo mekhonit metzuyanet.It looks like an excellent automobile.
- רוטם Rotemאני שמחה שאהבת אותה.ani smekha she-ahavta ota.I am happy that you liked it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
