Grand Theft Auto
/ɡɾand teft auto/from spelling rules
The English phrase "grand theft auto" is used in Spanish as Grand Theft Auto.
This term refers to the criminal act of stealing a motor vehicle.
Meaning: criminal act of stealing a motor vehicle (noun)
Which one should you use?
GTA is used as an informal way to refer to the game.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, stealing a car is colloquially called levantar un coche, which literally means to 'lift' or 'pick up' a car.
- In Spanish, there is a legal distinction between hurto, which is theft without violence, and robo, which involves force or intimidation.
- The word auto in this phrase shares a linguistic root with the Greek autós, meaning 'self', which is why it refers to an 'automobile' or a 'self-moving' vehicle.
Examples in context
- ¡Ya salió el nuevo 'Grand Theft Auto'! ¡Tengo que conseguirlo!The new 'Grand Theft Auto' is out! I have to get it!
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a news report on television.
- AlejandroMira, cometieron un Grand Theft Auto en el centro.Look, they committed a grand theft auto downtown.
- LucíaQué horror, Lucía no puede creerlo.How horrible, Lucía can't believe it.
- AlejandroSí, el robo de autos es muy común ahora.Yes, car theft is very common now.
- LucíaEspero que atrapen al culpable pronto.I hope they catch the culprit soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
