mobil
/ˈmobil/
The English word 'car' is translated into Indonesian as mobil. Wiktionary also lists otomobil and oto.
Meaning: automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver (noun)
Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| mobil | /ˈmobil/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| otomobil | [ɔtoˈmobɪl] (narrow) |
| oto | [ˈɔto] (narrow) |
The term refers to an automobile, which is a vehicle steered by a driver.
Which one should you use?
While mobil is the common way to say car, otomobil is used as a more formal or technical term for automobile.
Is it said differently in some regions?
oto is a dated or regional shortening used in certain Indonesian dialects.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmobil/
Did you know?
- The Indonesian word for 'furniture', mebel, is a linguistic sibling to the word for 'car', mobil. Both words trace their ancestry back to the same Latin root meaning 'moveable'.
- If you use the word oto in a conversation about vehicles, you might accidentally refer to a 'bib' used for babies. This is because oto can also be a borrowing from the Hokkien word for a 'bib'.
- In Indonesia, the word mobil is used broadly to cover almost any four-wheeled motor vehicle, including SUVs and hatchbacks.
Examples in context
- Tom masuk ke mobil.Tom got into the car.This sentence is useful for describing someone entering the mobil.Tatoeba #5868249 by Bilmanda, translation #1025653 by CK
- Aku tidur di mobil.I slept in the car.This sentence is useful for describing sleeping inside a mobil.Tatoeba #13040396 by Bilmanda, translation #5860686 by CK
- Aku masih di mobil.I'm still in the car.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is still inside the mobil.Tatoeba #13836366 by HAGNi, translation #11873973 by CK
- Saya ingin membeli sebuah mobil baru.I want to buy a new car.
- Mobil ini sangat mahal.This car is very expensive.
- Pabrik mobil ini berlokasi di Jakarta.This car factory is located in Jakarta.
- 240 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Budi and Indah are discussing a vehicle in a parking lot.
- IndahApakah ini mobil kamu, Indah?Is this your car, Indah?
- BudiBukan, itu mobil milik kakak saya.No, that is my brother's car.
- IndahMobilnya sangat besar dan keren.The car is very big and cool.
- BudiIya, dia sangat suka mobil itu.Yes, he really likes that car.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries mobil, otomobil, oto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mobil, oto, otomobil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
