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carros

/KAH-rrohs/

cars

A shiny red modern sedan parked on a quiet street.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'carros' refers to automobiles.

carros(noun)

mA1

cars

?

automobiles/personal vehicles

Also:

autos

?

short for automobiles

📝 In Action

Hay muchos carros en la calle hoy.

A1

There are many cars on the street today.

Me gustan los carros rojos.

A1

I like red cars.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coches (cars (common in Spain))
  • automóviles (automobiles (formal))

Common Collocations

  • carros usados – used cars
  • lavar los carros – to wash the cars
  • manejar carros – to drive cars

💡 Grammar Points

Making it Plural

Since 'carro' ends in a vowel, you simply add an 's' to make it 'carros' when talking about more than one.

Matching Words

Because 'carros' is a masculine plural word, words describing it must also end in 'os', like 'carros rápidos' (fast cars).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Regional Confusion

Mistake: "Using 'carros' in Spain to refer to automobiles."

Correction: In Spain, use 'coches' for cars. If you say 'carros' there, people might think of horse-drawn carts or shopping carts.

⭐ Usage Tips

When to use it

If you are in Mexico, Colombia, or the US speaking Spanish, 'carros' is your go-to word for everyday cars.

A metal shopping cart standing alone on a tile floor.

The word 'carros' can also mean shopping carts or trolleys.

carros(noun)

mA2

carts

?

shopping carts or luggage trolleys

Also:

wagons

?

horse-drawn vehicles

📝 In Action

Necesitamos dos carros para todas las compras.

A2

We need two carts for all the groceries.

Los caballos tiraban de los carros.

B1

The horses were pulling the wagons.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • carretas (ox-carts/wagons)
  • carritos (little carts (very common for shopping))

Common Collocations

  • carros de compra – shopping carts
  • carros de fuego – chariots of fire

💡 Grammar Points

Context is Key

When you are at a supermarket, 'carros' automatically refers to shopping carts, even without saying 'de compra'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Carro vs. Carrito

Many people prefer the smaller version 'carritos' for shopping carts, but 'carros' is also perfectly correct.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: carros

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Mexico and someone says 'Lava los carros', what are they asking you to wash?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

carro(car/cart) - noun
carrazo(great/big car) - noun
carrocería(car body) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'carros' masculine or feminine?

It is masculine. You should always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, like 'los carros' or 'nuestros carros'.

What is the difference between 'carro' and 'carros'?

'Carro' refers to one car or cart, while 'carros' refers to two or more.