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 |
The term car refers to an automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver. While coche is a common and widely used term, other words like auto or carro are also used depending on the region.
Which one should you use?
The word you choose depends heavily on geography. In Spain, coche is the standard term. In much of Latin America, such as Mexico and Colombia, carro is the standard word. In the Southern Cone, including countries like Argentina and Chile, auto is the common word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term automóvil is a formal way to say car, typically used in written language or formal occasions. In contrast, máquina is a colloquial term used in Cuba. If you need a neutral term that can encompass different types of vehicles, you can use vehículo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several specific terms are tied to certain regions: coche is used in Spain and the Philippines. auto is used especially in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. carro is used in Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. In Mexico and the Southwestern US, the term mueble (El Norte) is used. buga is a feminine slang term.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All standard forms for car, such as coche, auto and carro, are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkotʃe/
Did you know?
- In certain regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States, you might hear the unexpected term mueble to refer to a car.
- The Spanish word coche actually traces its roots back to a Hungarian village named Kocs, which was famous for manufacturing innovative horse-drawn carriages in the 15th century.
Examples in context
- Ese es mi auto.That's my car.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's car using 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.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's car using coche.Tatoeba #786159 by Shishir, translation #67035 by CK
- Me compré un coche nuevo.I bought a new car.
- El automóvil estaba estacionado frente a la casa.The car was parked in front of the house.
- Vamos a dar una vuelta en coche.Let's go for a ride in the car.
- Voy a lavar el auto en el lavadero.I am going to wash the car at the car wash.
- 2019 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are deciding how to get to the city center.
- Sofía¿Quieres ir en mi coche?Do you want to go in my car?
- AlejandroSí, prefiero ir en coche.Yes, I prefer to go by car.
- SofíaEstá bien, el coche está fuera.All right, the car is outside.
- AlejandroPerfecto, vamos ya.Perfect, let's go now.
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.
