Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dirección motorizada | /diɾeɡθjon motoɾiθada/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /diɾeɡsjon motoɾisada/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| dirección asistida f servodirección | /diɾeɡθjon asistida f seɾbodiɾeɡθjon/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /diɾeɡsjon asistida f seɾbodiɾeɡsjon/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
The term dirección motorizada is a literal translation of "motorized steering".
Which one should you use?
While dirección motorizada is a direct translation, dirección asistida is often used in automotive contexts and literally means "assisted steering". For a highly technical term used in automotive engineering or manuals, you may use the single word servodirección.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Dirección asistida is considered a formal way to say power steering, while servodirección is a technical term used specifically in professional engineering contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may encounter the terms timón asistido or timón hidráulico to refer to power steering.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because dirección is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine definite article la when referring to it, such as in la dirección asistida.
How do you pronounce it?
/diɾeɡθjon motoɾiθada/
Did you know?
- The term dirección is a polysemy in Spanish, as it is used for 'steering', 'management' and 'home address'.
- While dirección refers to the steering system, the physical steering wheel is called el volante, which comes from the verb voltear, meaning 'to turn'.
- In many parts of Latin America, the steering wheel itself is called a timón, which is the same word used for a ship's helm.
Examples in context
- El vehículo está equipado con dirección asistida.The vehicle is equipped with power steering.
- Me gusta conducir carros con dirección hidráulica.I like driving cars with power steering.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are looking at a used car for sale.
- JavierElena, mira este coche, es muy barato.Elena, look at this car, it is very cheap.
- ElenaEs bonito, pero ¿tiene dirección motorizada?It is nice, but does it have power steering?
- JavierSí, el vendedor dice que sí tiene.Yes, the seller says that it does.
- ElenaPerfecto, entonces vamos a probarlo.Perfect, then let's test it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “power steering” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
