auto

/OW-toh/

NounmA1

car?a personal vehicle

Also:automobile?a more formal equivalent

📝 In Action

Mi auto nuevo es de color rojo.

My new car is red.

¿Dónde estacionaste el auto?

Where did you park the car?

Vamos a necesitar un auto más grande para la familia.

We're going to need a bigger car for the family.

Word Connections

Synonyms

coche (car (common in Spain))
carro (car (common in Latin America))
automóvil (automobile (more formal))

Common Collocations

auto de carreras – race car
lavar el auto – to wash the car
seguro de auto – car insurance

💡 Grammar Points

Gender of 'Auto'

'Auto' is a masculine noun, so you always use 'el' or 'un' with it, like 'el auto rojo' (the red car). It's short for the masculine word 'automóvil'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Auto' vs. 'Coche' vs. 'Carro'

Mistake: "Using 'coche' in Colombia or 'carro' in Spain for everyday conversation."

Correction: Use 'auto' or 'carro' in most of Latin America. Use 'coche' in Spain. 'Auto' is widely understood everywhere, making it a safe choice.

⭐ Usage Tips

Your Go-To Word for 'Car'

'Auto' is the perfect word for 'car' in everyday conversation in many places. It's friendly and common, a bit like saying 'car' instead of 'automobile' in English.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: auto

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'auto' to mean 'car'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

automóvil(automobile) - noun

automovilista(driver, motorist) - noun

automático(automatic) - adjective

automatizar(to automate) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to use 'auto', 'coche', or 'carro'?

It depends on where you are! 'Auto' is widely understood almost everywhere, making it a safe bet. 'Coche' is the main word in Spain. 'Carro' is very common in many parts of Latin America (like Mexico, Colombia, and Central America). When in doubt, start with 'auto'.

Why is 'auto' masculine if it ends in '-o' like 'mano' (which is feminine)?

'Auto' is masculine because it's a shortened version of 'el automóvil', which is a masculine noun. Most nouns ending in '-o' are masculine, but there are a few famous exceptions like 'la mano' (the hand) and 'la foto' (short for 'la fotografía').