coches

/KOH-chehs/

cars

A row of three brightly colored, simple automobiles parked side-by-side on a street.

Coches often translates to "cars" or "automobiles."

coches(noun)

mA1

cars

automobiles

Also:

vehicles

general term for transport

📝 In Action

Hay muchos coches aparcados en la calle.

There are many cars parked on the street.

Mis padres compraron dos coches nuevos este año.

My parents bought two new cars this year.

Los coches eléctricos son más silenciosos.

Electric cars are quieter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

automóviles (automobiles)
carros (cars (Latam usage))
autos (cars (short for automobiles))

Common Collocations

alquiler de coches – car rental
lavar los coches – to wash the cars
coches de lujo – luxury cars

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Noun Rule

Since 'coche' ends in a vowel, you just add '-s' to make it plural: 'coche' (one car) becomes 'coches' (many cars).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La coches"

Correction: The singular form 'coche' is masculine, so the plural must use the masculine article: 'Los coches'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Difference Alert

While 'coches' is standard in Spain, learners traveling to Mexico, Central America, or the Caribbean will almost always hear 'carros' or 'autos' instead.

A simple illustration showing three connected sections of a passenger train moving along tracks.

In the context of rail transport, coches refers to the carriages or sections of a train.

coches(noun)

mB1

carriages

train or subway sections

Also:

wagons

railroad/train context

📝 In Action

Los billetes indican el número de coche y asiento.

The tickets indicate the carriage and seat number.

El tren de la línea azul tiene solo tres coches.

The blue line train only has three carriages.

Word Connections

Synonyms

vagones (wagons/carriages)
compartimentos (compartments)

Common Collocations

coches cama – sleeping cars
coches restaurante – dining cars

💡 Grammar Points

Context is Key

When discussing rail travel or transportation systems, 'coches' usually refers to the section of the train or subway, not a personal automobile.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: coches

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Madrid and need to rent an automobile, what service are you looking for?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

coche(car (singular)) - noun

cochera(garage / car shed) - noun

cochazo(fancy/huge car (augmentative)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'coches' feminine or masculine?

The singular form 'coche' is masculine, so the plural 'coches' is also masculine. Always use masculine articles and modifiers, such as 'Los coches' (the cars) or 'coches rápidos' (fast cars).

Why do some Spanish speakers use 'carros' instead of 'coches'?

This is purely regional. 'Coche' is predominant in Spain and Argentina, while 'carro' is the preferred word for 'car' in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Both mean the same thing, so choose the word used in the region you are studying.