маши́на
mašýnafeminine
The English word 'car' is translated into Ukrainian as маши́на (mašýna). Wiktionary also lists авті́вка (avtívka) and авто́ (avtó).
Meaning: automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| маши́на | mašýna | feminine |
| авті́вка | avtívka | feminine |
| авто́ | avtó | neuter |
| автомобі́ль | avtomobílʹ | masculine |
All these terms refer to an automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver.
Which one should you use?
маши́на is the standard, common everyday word. автомобі́ль is the formal and technical term for an automobile. авті́вка is a more colloquial or diminutive way to say car. авто́ is a common shortened form used in casual speech, similar to 'auto' in English. Finally, тачка is a colloquial way to refer to a car.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
маши́на and авті́вка are feminine nouns, meaning their endings will change according to gender and case in a sentence. For example, маши́ни can be the genitive singular or the nominative/accusative plural. In contrast, авто́ is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
mašýna
Did you know?
- While тачка refers to a car in slang, its literal meaning is 'wheelbarrow'. Using it for an automobile is a colloquialism that mirrors how 'ride' or 'wheels' is used in English.
- Ukrainian has a specific diminutive form авті́вка which can express not only a small car but also affection for the vehicle. Adding the suffix -к- is a common cultural way to soften the tone of a noun.
- While маши́на is the standard word for a car, it is also the exact same word used for a 'machine' or any mechanical device.
Examples in context
- Я бачив новий автомобіль на вулиці.I saw a new car on the street.
- У нього класна машина.He has a cool car.
- Я забув ключі в авто.I forgot the keys in the car.
- Давай проїдемось на тачці?Let's take a ride in the car?
- Ця маши́на дуже швидка.Tsya mashyna duzhe shvydka.This car is very fast.
- Де стоїть твоя маши́на?De stoyit' tvoya mashyna?Where is your car parked?
Example conversation
Olena and Dmytro are discussing a vehicle in a parking lot.
- Олена OlenaДмитре, яка гарна маши́на!Dmytre, yaka harna mashyna!Dmytro, what a beautiful car!
- Дмитро DmytroДякую, Олено, вона мені дуже подобається.Dyakuyu, Oleno, vona meni duzhe podobayetsya.Thank you, Olena, I like it very much.
- Олена OlenaВона нова?Vona nova?Is it new?
- Дмитро DmytroТак, я щойно її купив.Tak, ya shchoyno yiyi kupyv.Yes, I just bought it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
