Inklingo
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vehículo

/veh-EE-ku-lo/

vehicle

A bright red four-door sedan driving along a sunny, winding road in a countryside setting.

A car is a common type of vehículo (vehicle) used for transport.

vehículo(noun)

mA1

vehicle

?

Any machine used for transport (car, truck, bicycle, etc.)

,

car

?

Used generally, though 'coche' or 'carro' are more common for personal cars.

Also:

means of transport

?

General term

📝 In Action

Todos los vehículos deben respetar el límite de velocidad.

A2

All vehicles must respect the speed limit.

Compramos un vehículo nuevo para la familia.

A1

We bought a new car for the family.

Los vehículos de emergencia tienen prioridad en la carretera.

B1

Emergency vehicles have priority on the road.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vehículo eléctrico – electric vehicle
  • matrícula del vehículo – vehicle registration/license plate

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Rule Breaker

Even though many Spanish words ending in '-o' are masculine, 'vehículo' is always masculine (el vehículo). Remember this by pairing it with 'el'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mispronunciation of Stress

Mistake: "ve-hi-CU-lo (stress on the third syllable)"

Correction: veh-Í-cu-lo (stress on the second syllable, which is marked by the accent). This is a word with a written accent, so the stressed syllable is fixed.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal vs. Casual

'Vehículo' is a great formal term. In casual conversation, you'll often hear 'coche' (Spain) or 'carro' (Latin America) when specifically talking about a car.

A vintage style blue and white radio sitting on a wooden surface, clearly emitting stylized sound waves into the air.

A radio can be considered a vehículo (medium) for communication.

vehículo(noun)

mB2

medium

?

A way or means of communication or expression

,

means

?

A way to achieve something

Also:

channel

?

Figurative way of transmission

📝 In Action

El arte es un vehículo poderoso para el cambio social.

B2

Art is a powerful medium for social change.

Este periódico sirvió como vehículo para sus ideas políticas.

C1

This newspaper served as a channel for his political ideas.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vehículo de expresión – medium of expression
  • vehículo financiero – financial vehicle (investment means)

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

In this abstract sense, 'vehículo' means something that 'carries' or 'transmits' an idea, emotion, or resource, extending the core meaning of transportation.

⭐ Usage Tips

When to Use This Sense

Reserve this usage for contexts where you are discussing abstract concepts, communication, or investment strategies. It sounds quite professional and educated.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: vehículo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'vehículo' in its figurative (abstract) sense?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

vehicular(vehicular (adj.)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'vehículo' the same as 'coche' or 'carro'?

Not exactly. 'Vehículo' is the general term for *anything* that transports (a car, a bus, a bike, even a spaceship). 'Coche' (Spain) or 'carro' (Latin America) are specific types of vehicles—personal passenger cars.

Why does 'vehículo' have an accent mark?

The accent mark on the 'i' tells you exactly where the stress falls when you say the word: veh-Í-cu-lo. If it didn't have the accent, the stress would fall on the second-to-last syllable, which would be incorrect.