Spanish Conversation · Level 4
87 words
Spanish word
auto
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈauto/
Meaning
- masculine nouncar
Example
¿Puedes lavar el auto hoy?
Can you wash the car today?
More examples
No puedo conducir mi auto porque no tiene gasolina.
I can't drive my car because it doesn't have gasoline.
Core concept
Private four-wheeled motor car used for everyday personal transport.
Common phrases
conducir el auto
drive the car
lavar el auto
wash the car
llenar el tanque del auto
fill the car's fuel tank
Similar words
coche: Everyday personal four-wheeled car typically used in Spain.
carro: Everyday personal four-wheeled car typically used in many Latin American countries.
automóvil: Everyday personal four-wheeled car in a formal or neutral register.
vehículo: General term for any motorized vehicle on roads, including cars, buses, and trucks.
Definition in Spanish
Designa un vehículo motorizado de uso privado para transportar personas en la vida cotidiana.
Word origin
'Auto' is a shortened form of automóvil, from auto- 'self' plus móvil 'movable' (Latin mobilis), originally meaning a self-propelled vehicle.
Usage tips
- The word is a common informal term in much of Latin America; in Spain speakers usually say coche, and formal contexts prefer automóvil or vehículo.