Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| coche | /ˈkot͡ʃe/ | Philippines, Spain, masculine |
| automóvil | /autoˈmobil/ | masculine |
| auto | /ˈauto/ | Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, masculine |
| carro | /ˈkaro/ | Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, masculine |
| máquina | /ˈmakina/ | Cuba, colloquial, masculine |
| mueble (El Norte) | Mexico, Southwestern, US, masculine | |
| pupú | /puˈpu/ | masculine |
| buga | /ˈbuɡa/ | feminine, slang |
All forms of the word refer to an automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver.
Which one should you use?
While many forms exist, the most common word in Spain is coche. In Mexico and much of Latin America, carro is the most common term. In the Southern Cone regions of Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, auto is frequently used. In the Caribbean, calling a car a máquina is a colloquial way to refer to it.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Automóvil is a formal way to say car. In Argentina, auto is used for both formal and informal situations. Máquina is a colloquial term, while buga is slang and pupú is a childish term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Coche is the standard term in Spain and the Philippines. Carro is used in Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Auto is used in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Máquina is used in Cuba. In the Southwestern United States, specifically in Mexico-influenced areas, the term mueble (El Norte) is used. Buga is a slang term and is feminine.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Coche is a masculine noun and requires the masculine article el to say 'the car' (el coche). All listed forms are masculine except for the slang term buga, which is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkotʃe/
Did you know?
- The term coche originates from Kocs, a 15th-century Hungarian village known for inventing a new suspension system for horse-drawn vehicles.
Examples in context
- Ese es mi auto.That's my car.The sentence is useful for identifying ownership of an auto.Tatoeba #2348416 by hayastan, translation #2251094 by CK
- Éste es mi auto.This is my car.Tatoeba #625551 by Leono, translation #56205 by CK
- Ése es su coche.That is his car.The sentence is useful for identifying ownership of a coche.Tatoeba #786159 by Shishir, translation #67035 by CK
- ¿Dónde puedo alquilar un automóvil en Madrid?Where can I rent a car in Madrid?
- Este coche tiene un excelente rendimiento en carretera.This car has excellent performance on the road.
- Recuerda no dejar objetos de valor en el vehículo cuando lo estaciones.Remember not to leave valuable objects in the car when you park it.
- Vamos al cine en mi auto.Let's go to the movies in my car.
- Mi coche es genial para los viajes largos.My car is great for long trips.
- ¡El carro de mi amigo es increíblemente rápido!My friend's car is incredibly fast!
- 2019 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are looking for their keys near the driveway.
- Sofía¿Ves las llaves de tu coche, Javier?Do you see the keys to your car, Javier?
- JavierNo, no las encuentro por ningún lado.No, I can't find them anywhere.
- SofíaEstán encima del coche, en el techo.They are on top of the car, on the roof.
- Javier¡Es verdad! Gracias, Sofía.It's true! Thanks, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries coche, automóvil, auto, carro, máquina, pupú, buga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auto, automóvil, carro, coche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
