auto
/ˈa.u.to/
The Italian word for cars is auto.
auto refers to road vehicles with four wheels and an engine used for transporting a small number of people.
Which one should you use?
While auto is a common term, macchina is the more frequent, everyday word used for 'car' in spoken Italian.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word auto is an invariable noun, meaning it does not change its form in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈa.u.to/ and has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- If you ask for an auto in a theatrical setting, you might receive a script instead of a vehicle.
- While macchina is the common word for 'car', its literal meaning is 'machine'. This means an Italian speaker might use the same word to refer to a car, a washing machine or a coffee maker.
- When talking about the 'body' of a car, Italians use the word carrozzeria. This word comes from carrozza, meaning 'carriage', linking modern automobiles to horse-drawn transport.
Examples in context
- Io ho due auto.I have two cars.This sentence is useful for expressing ownership of a specific number of auto.Tatoeba #3465612 by Guybrush88, translation #321849 by CK
- Io amo le auto.I love cars.This sentence is useful for expressing a general affection for auto.Tatoeba #13297336 by Guybrush88, translation #11556247 by shekitten
- Lei ha tre auto.You have three cars.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone possesses a specific number of auto.Tatoeba #2069208 by Guybrush88, translation #20121 by LimeGreenTeknii
- Ho appena comprato una nuova automobile.I just bought a new car.
- Sto pensando di comprare una nuova macchina.I'm thinking of buying a new car.
- 300 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are talking about their commute to work.
- LorenzoPrendi l'autobus o usi l'auto?Do you take the bus or use the car?
- ChiaraUso sempre l'auto per andare in ufficio.I always use the car to go to the office.
- LorenzoMa ci sono troppe auto in centro.But there are too many cars downtown.
- ChiaraHai ragione, il traffico è terribile.You are right, the traffic is terrible.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry auto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
