lavar el coche
/labaɾ el kot͡ʃe/from spelling rules
To wash the car in Spanish is lavar el coche.
This phrase is used to describe the action of cleaning the exterior of a motor vehicle using water and soap. Note that lavar el coche specifically refers to washing the vehicle itself, while limpiar el coche would imply a more general cleaning or tidying of the interior.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Spanish speakers use different words for 'car' depending on where they are. In many parts of Latin America, lavar el auto is common, using 'auto' instead of 'coche'. In several countries in Central America and the Caribbean, you will hear lavar el carro. In Argentina and some other parts of South America, the form Lavá el auto is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase lavar el coche uses the infinitive lavar (to wash). This form is used following other verbs, such as querer (to want) or tener que (to have to).
How do you pronounce it?
/labaɾ el kotʃe/
Did you know?
- The word coche is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'coach', as both originated from the Hungarian village of Kocs.
- In many Spanish-speaking cities, you will find a lavador, a professional who washes cars by hand in the street or a parking lot rather than using an automated machine.
- The Spanish word for 'the', which is el, is a false cognate of the Arabic definite article al. Although they sound nearly identical, they developed from entirely different linguistic lineages.
Examples in context
- Le vi lavar el coche.I saw him wash the car.This sentence is useful for seeing the phrase used in a way that describes an action observed in another person.Tatoeba #596232 by Shishir, translation #283828 by CK
- Él no tiene que lavar el coche.He doesn't have to wash the car.Tatoeba #947260 by marcelostockle, translation #290970 by CK
- Mi padre me hizo lavar el coche.My father made me wash the car.This sentence demonstrates using the phrase after a verb that indicates being made to do something.Tatoeba #580190 by Shishir, translation #319202 by CK
- Lave el coche antes de las 10 a.m., por favor.Please wash the car before 10 a.m.
- Lava el coche después de la escuela, ¿sí?Wash the car after school, okay?
- Lavá el auto cuando termines, por favor.Wash the car when you finish, please.
- Lavaré el carro más tarde, después de trabajar.I will wash the car later, after work.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking in their driveway on a sunny morning.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿podemos lavar el coche ahora?Daniel, can we wash the car now?
- DanielSí, Elena, yo buscaré el jabón.Yes, Elena, I will look for the soap.
- ElenaPerfecto, el coche está muy sucio.Perfect, the car is very dirty.
- DanielNo te preocupes, quedará como nuevo.Don't worry, it will look like new.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coche, el, lavar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
