Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | /ˈaʊ̯to/ | neuter |
| Automobil | /aʊ̯tomoˈbiːl/ | neuter |
| Wagen | /ˈvaːɡən/ | masculine |
| PKW | /ˈpeːkaˌveː/ /ˌpeːkaˈveː/ (uncommon) |
masculine |
| Karre | /ˈkaʁə/ | feminine |
In German, several words are used to describe an automobile or a vehicle steered by a driver, depending on whether you are speaking formally, technically or using slang.
Which one should you use?
While Auto is the standard term, Automobil is a more formal or technical equivalent. Wagen can refer to a car or vehicle, but it is also used to refer to a carriage or a wagon.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Auto is the standard and most common way to say car. For more formal, technical or journalistic contexts, use Automobil or Wagen. In official contexts like traffic laws or vehicle registration, the abbreviation PKW is used. On the other end of the spectrum, Karre is a colloquial term that often implies the vehicle is old, unreliable or a junk heap, similar to calling it a 'junker' or 'wheels'. In slang, a cool or fancy car might be called a Schlitten, while the colloquial term Kiste literally means a box or crate.
How does it change in a sentence?
Auto is a neuter noun, and its plural form is Autos. Wagen is a masculine noun that remains the same in both its singular and plural forms.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaʊ̯to/
Did you know?
- The verb wagen, meaning 'to dare', evolved from the noun for 'scales' or 'balances' because weighing something was seen as a gamble.
- German has two different words spelled wagen. One refers to a vehicle, while the other is a verb meaning 'to dare' or 'to venture'.
Examples in context
- Ich bin im Auto.I'm in the car.This sentence is useful for saying you are currently inside the car.Tatoeba #718919 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #718876 by CK
- Wo ist das Auto?Where's the car?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the car.Tatoeba #6641003 by Felixjp, translation #1886597 by CK
- Tom ist im Auto.Tom is in the car.This sentence is useful for stating that someone else is inside the car.Tatoeba #6642704 by Felixjp, translation #6532375 by CK
- Ich fahre mit meinem Auto zur Arbeit.I drive to work in my car.
- Kannst du mich mit deiner Kiste abholen?Can you pick me up in your car?
- Guck mal, der hat einen echt coolen Schlitten!Look, he has a really cool car!
- 4013 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are deciding how to get to the city center.
- JuliaNehmen wir das Auto?Shall we take the car?
- MaximilianNein, das Auto ist kaputt.No, the car is broken.
- JuliaFahren wir mit dem Bus?Shall we go by bus?
- MaximilianJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries Auto, Automobil, Wagen, PKW, Karre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Auto, Automobil, Wagen, wagen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
