Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| scooter | /ˈskuteɾ/ /esˈkuteɾ/ |
masculine |
| motoneta | /motoˈneta/ | feminine |
| vespa | /ˈbespa/ | feminine |
| escúter | /esˈkuteɾ/ | feminine, masculine |
The term refers to a type of motorcycle or moped characterized by a step-through frame. To express the action of riding on a scooter, you can use the phrase montar patinete.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between motorized vehicles and non-motorized ones. While scooter and motoneta refer to motorized scooters, the word patinete refers specifically to a non-motorized kick scooter. Additionally, the term scooter is often used by younger generations and in urban areas.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, motoneta is a common way to refer to a motor scooter. In Argentina and Uruguay, the slang term pato is used to refer to a scooter.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The different forms of the word have different genders. scooter is masculine, while motoneta and vespa are feminine. The form escúter can be either masculine or feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈskuteɾ/
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is common to use the brand name vespa as a generic term for any motorized scooter.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word for wasp, avispa, and the Italian-derived term for a scooter, vespa, share the same ancient roots. They both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European source describing a stinging insect.
- Because it is a phonetic adaptation of the English word, escúter follows Spanish spelling rules by adding an accent to indicate the stress.
- The word motoneta is a diminutive form of the word moto, which is a shortened version of 'motocicleta'. It effectively translates to 'little motorcycle'.
Examples in context
- Tengo una nueva escúter.I have a new scooter.This sentence shows how to use the form escúter.Tatoeba #9392538 by ignacio, translation #9183183 by CK
- Tom tuvo un accidente en una motoneta.Tom had a scooter accident.This sentence shows how to use the form motoneta.Tatoeba #11935839 by Eremon, translation #9393469 by CK
- Tengo un scooter.I have a scooter.This sentence shows how to use the form scooter.Tatoeba #1497008 by marcelostockle, translation #1495897 by CK
- Hoy voy a andar en ciclomotor por la ciudad.Today I'm going to ride a scooter around the city.
- Me encantaría tener un scooter como el de mi amigo.I would love to have a scooter like my friend's.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about commuting to work.
- JavierSofía, ¿cómo vas al trabajo ahora?Sofía, how do you get to work now?
- SofíaMe compré un scooter para evitar el tráfico.I bought a scooter to avoid the traffic.
- Javier¡Qué bien! ¿Es fácil de estacionar?That's great! Is it easy to park?
- SofíaSí, el scooter cabe en cualquier lugar.Yes, the scooter fits anywhere.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scooter” translations and entries scooter, motoneta, vespa, escúter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escúter, motoneta, vespa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
