Inklingo

How to Say "motorbike" in Spanish

English → Spanish

moto

MOH-toh/ˈmo.to/

nounA1general
Use 'moto' as the everyday, general term for a motorbike, suitable for most common situations and conversations.
A bright red motorcycle, designed in a simple storybook style, parked on a paved road.

Examples

Quiero comprar una moto nueva para ir al trabajo.

I want to buy a new motorbike to go to work.

Ella siempre lleva casco cuando conduce su moto.

She always wears a helmet when she rides her motorbike.

¿Viste qué rápido pasó esa moto roja?

Did you see how fast that red motorcycle went by?

A Feminine Exception

Even though 'moto' ends in -o (which usually means a word is masculine), it is a feminine word. This is because it is a shortened version of the full word 'motocicleta' (which clearly ends in -a).

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: “El moto es rápida.”

Correction: La moto es rápida. Remember to use 'la' or 'una' before 'moto' and use feminine adjectives like 'rápida'.

motocicleta

/moh-toh-see-kleh-tah//motosiˈkleta/

nounA1formal
Opt for 'motocicleta' when you want to sound slightly more formal, or if you are referring to the vehicle in a more official or descriptive capacity.
A sleek, colorful motorcycle parked on a quiet street.

Examples

Mi tío viaja por todo el país en su motocicleta.

My uncle travels across the whole country on his motorcycle.

Es obligatorio llevar casco cuando vas en motocicleta.

It's mandatory to wear a helmet when you go on a motorcycle.

Prefiero la motocicleta al coche porque es más rápida en el tráfico.

I prefer the motorcycle over the car because it's faster in traffic.

Gender and Endings

This word is feminine because it ends in 'a'. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Shortening the word

Mistake: “el moto”

Correction: la moto

Overusing 'Motocicleta'

Learners often default to 'motocicleta' because it's a direct cognate and sounds more formal. However, in casual conversation, 'moto' is far more common and natural-sounding for everyday use.

Related Translations

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