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autos

AH-tohs/ˈau̯.tos/

“autos” means “cars” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

cars, automobiles

Also: vehicles
NounmA1
SpainMexico, Argentina, Colombia
Three brightly colored, simple passenger cars driving along a road.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos dos autos para llevar a todas las personas a la fiesta.

A1

We need two cars to take everyone to the party.

Los autos modernos tienen mucha tecnología.

A2

Modern automobiles have a lot of technology.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coches (cars (common in Spain))
  • vehículos (vehicles)

Common Collocations

  • alquiler de autos – car rental
  • autos usados – used cars

proceedings, case files

Also: records
NounmC1formal
A tall stack of thick, bound legal documents resting on a dark wooden bench, symbolizing judicial proceedings.

📝 In Action

El abogado solicitó una copia certificada de todos los autos para la apelación.

C1

The lawyer requested a certified copy of all the proceedings for the appeal.

El secretario judicial archivó los autos después de la sentencia.

C2

The court clerk filed the case files after the ruling.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • expedientes (files/records)
  • actuaciones (actions/records)

Common Collocations

  • autos judiciales – judicial records
  • levantar autos – to draw up the proceedings

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: autos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'autos' in its legal context?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
auto(car; self-) — Noun
automóvil(automobile) — Noun
autobus(bus) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
patosdatos
📚 Etymology▼

The most common meaning ('cars') comes from the Greek prefix *auto-*, meaning 'self,' as it is the shortened form of *automóvil* ('self-moving'). The legal meaning ('proceedings') has a separate origin, likely tracing back to the Latin word *actus* meaning 'act' or 'deed' in a legal context.

First recorded: 19th century (for the automobile meaning)

Cognates (Related words)

English: autoFrench: auto

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'autos' the same as 'coches'?

Yes, they both mean 'cars.' 'Autos' is widely preferred in most of Latin America, while 'coche' is the standard term used in Spain.

Does 'autos' have a singular form?

Yes, the singular form for 'cars' is 'auto'. The legal meaning, however, is almost always used in the plural form 'autos'.