coche de juguete
/kot͡ʃe de xuɡete/from spelling rules
The English phrase "toy car" is translated into Spanish as coche de juguete.
The phrase refers to a small model of a car designed for children to play with.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase coche de juguete is composed of coche (car) and de juguete (of toy/toy-like).
Which one should you use?
While coche de juguete is the standard term in Spain, in much of Latin America, carro de juguete is more common as carro is the preferred word for a motor vehicle instead of coche. You can also use carrito de juguete to refer to a little toy car, emphasizing its small size.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may commonly hear the term coche de juguete. In Mexico, the phrase auto de juguete is often used and in Argentina, autito de juguete is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you pluralize the noun coche to coches, while the prepositional phrase de juguete remains singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/kotʃe de xuɡete/
Did you know?
- The word coche is a doublet of the English word 'coach', both stemming from the Hungarian village of Kocs.
- The word juguete is formed from the verb jugar and a diminutive suffix, meaning a 'toy' is literally a 'little game' or 'little play'.
- The term carrito is highly versatile and can mean a toy car, but it is also the standard word for a shopping trolley or a baby stroller in certain regions.
Examples in context
- Mira ese carrito, ¿puedo verlo?Look at that toy car, can I see it?
- El niño juega con su coche de juguete.The boy plays with his toy car.
- ¿Dónde dejaste el coche de juguete rojo?Where did you leave the red toy car?
- Compré un coche de juguete para mi sobrino.I bought a toy car for my nephew.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are tidying up a playroom.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿has visto el coche de juguete de Lucas?Alejandro, have you seen Lucas's toy car?
- AlejandroCreo que está debajo del sofá.I think it is under the sofa.
- ElenaTienes razón, aquí está el coche de juguete.You are right, here is the toy car.
- AlejandroQué bueno que lo encontraste.I am glad you found it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coche, de, juguete, CC BY-SA 4.0.
