motor
/moh-TOHR/
engine
The word motor often refers to an engine, the mechanical device that powers a vehicle.
motor(Noun)
engine
?mechanical device in a vehicle
,motor
?general machine or electric device
power unit
?technical/industrial
📝 In Action
El coche no arranca; el mecánico dijo que el motor necesita reparación.
A1The car won't start; the mechanic said the engine needs repair.
Este barco utiliza un motor fuera de borda muy potente.
A2This boat uses a very powerful outboard motor.
El ascensor tiene un motor eléctrico que funciona con muy poco ruido.
A2The elevator has an electric motor that runs very quietly.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Even though 'motor' ends in -or, which sometimes makes a noun feminine (like 'flor'), this word is always masculine: 'el motor'.
Motor can also mean 'driving force' or primary motivation behind an action or movement.
motor(Noun)
driving force
?cause or primary motivation
,impetus
?formal motivation or stimulus
catalyst
?thing that causes change
📝 In Action
La innovación tecnológica es el motor de la economía moderna.
B2Technological innovation is the driving force of the modern economy.
Su pasión por la justicia fue el motor que impulsó toda su vida política.
C1His passion for justice was the motivation that drove his entire political life.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
When you use 'motor' this way, you are comparing the abstract concept (like ambition or education) to the physical engine that makes a car go. It's used to emphasize importance.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: motor
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'motor' in its figurative sense (B2 level)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'motor' have a feminine form, like 'actriz' is the feminine of 'actor'?
No. When 'motor' refers to the machine or the driving force, it is always masculine ('el motor'). There is no feminine form for this word.
How is 'motor' different from 'máquina'?
'Motor' specifically refers to the part of a system that generates the power or movement. 'Máquina' (machine) is the more general word for a device with moving parts that does work, and it might contain a 'motor'.