French word

automobile

Pronunciation

IPA/otomobil/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncar

Example

Mon automobile est en panne.

My car has broken down.

Illustration for automobile (car)

More examples

Le garagiste a réparé l'automobile.

The mechanic repaired the car.

Core concept

A powered road vehicle enclosing passengers and moving under its own engine.

Common phrases

  • une automobile en panne

    a stalled car

  • faire le plein de son automobile

    fill up one's car

  • assurer son automobile

    insure one's car

Similar words

voiture: A four-wheeled motor vehicle designed to carry people on roads.
auto: A common spoken short form for a motor vehicle.
véhicule: A road vehicle used to transport people or goods.

Definition in French

Véhicule motorisé conçu pour transporter des personnes sur la route.

Word origin

Automobile was formed from Greek autos, 'self', and Latin mobilis, 'movable', to name a vehicle that moves by its own power.

Usage tips

  • Voiture is much more common than automobile in ordinary conversation, while automobile often sounds formal or technical.

Related words

Word lists with this word