en coche
/en kot͡ʃe/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'by car' is translated into Spanish as en coche.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en coche literally translates to 'in car'.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the preposition 'by' for modes of transport, Spanish uses en (in) to express traveling by car.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase used depends on the region. en coche is commonly used in Spain. In Latin America, en auto is used in several countries, such as Argentina or Chile and en carro is used in many parts of Latin America. In Central America and the Caribbean, en carro is commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
/en kotʃe/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, using en coche might be confusing because coche can refer to a baby carriage rather than a vehicle.
- The word coche has its roots in a small Hungarian village called Kocs. In the 15th century, this village became famous for producing horse-drawn carriages with a revolutionary suspension system.
- In certain contexts, carro can refer to a shopping cart or a rail car, whereas coche is strictly used for the passenger vehicle in Spain.
Examples in context
- Tom vino en coche.Tom came by car.This sentence shows how to use en coche to describe how someone arrived.Tatoeba #2098319 by Shishir, translation #1026913 by CK
- Fui a Kioto en coche.I went to Kyoto by car.This sentence uses en coche to describe traveling to a destination.Tatoeba #1880803 by Shishir, translation #789766 by CN
- Fui a Boston en coche.I went to Boston by car.Tatoeba #3225095 by Shishir, translation #3024222 by CK
- Necesito viajar a la conferencia en automóvil.I need to travel to the conference by car.
- Por favor, indíqueme cómo llegar a su oficina en automóvil.Please, tell me how to get to your office by car.
- Prefiero desplazarme en automóvil para mayor comodidad.I prefer to travel by car for comfort.
- Es necesario llegar al aeropuerto en coche.It is necessary to get to the airport by car.
- Podemos visitar la ciudad en coche y disfrutar del paisaje.We can explore the city by car and enjoy the scenery.
- El cliente siempre prefiere viajar en coche de lujo.The client always prefers to travel by luxury car.
- Vamos a la playa en auto.We're going to the beach by car.
- Podemos recorrer el país en auto y disfrutar del viaje.We can travel around the country by car and enjoy the trip.
- No me gusta viajar en avión, prefiero hacerlo en auto.I don't like traveling by plane, I prefer doing it by car.
- ¿Cómo llego al centro en carro?How do I get to the city center by car?
- Puedes ir en carro o en transporte público, como prefieras.You can go by car or by public transportation, whatever you prefer.
- Nos encontraremos en el restaurante, llegaré en carro.We'll meet at the restaurant, I'll arrive by car.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are planning a trip to the mountains.
- Javier¿Vamos en tren o en coche?Are we going by train or by car?
- MaríaEs mejor ir en coche.It is better to go by car.
- JavierDe acuerdo, yo conduzco.Alright, I will drive.
- MaríaPerfecto, yo traigo la música.Perfect, I will bring the music.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coche, en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
