mașină
/maˈʃi.nə/feminine
The Romanian word for car is mașină. Wiktionary also lists automobil.
Meaning: automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver (noun)
Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mașină | /maˈʃi.nə/ | feminine |
| automobil | neuter |
Both mașină and automobil refer to an automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver.
Which one should you use?
automobil is a more formal term.
How does it change in a sentence?
mașină is a feminine noun. Its plural form is mașini. automobil is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /maˈʃi.nə/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The phrase a fi în mașină means 'to be in the car', but if you are 'getting into' the car, Romanians use the verb a urca, which literally means 'to climb'.
- In Romanian slang, a very old or broken-down mașină is sometimes jokingly called a rablă, which literally refers to a piece of scrap metal.
- The word mașină is a general term for any 'machine'. In a Romanian household, you might use the same word to describe a washing machine mașină de spălat or a sewing machine mașină de cusut.
Examples in context
- Ei nu au mașină.They don't have a car.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone does not possess a mașină.Tatoeba #4932279 by elenacristina260, translation #2171180 by Hybrid
- Sami stă în mașină.Sami is sitting in the car.This sentence is useful for describing someone sitting inside a mașină.Tatoeba #9040666 by CataG, translation #7202369 by OsoHombre
- Ai nevoie de mașină?Do you need the car?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a requirement for a mașină.Tatoeba #10253777 by CataG, translation #10098036 by DJ_Saidez
- Îmi place să conduc un automobil modern.I enjoy driving a modern car.
- Am cumpărat o mașină nouă.I bought a new car.
- 87 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alexandru and Elena are standing in a parking lot.
- AlexandruUnde este mașina ta?Where is your car?
- ElenaMașina este acolo, lângă poartă.The car is over there, near the gate.
- AlexandruE o mașină nouă?Is it a new car?
- ElenaNu, e mașina mea veche.No, it is my old car.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries mașină, automobil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
