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automóvil

automobile

noun ow-toh-MOH-beel Less Common
Travel & Places Transportation

Origin: From Greek autos (self) + Latin mobilis (movable).

Also means

car

Usage Note

Automóvil is the formal or technical word for a car; everyday speech uses coche (Spain) or carro (Latin America). The word is masculine and its plural is automóviles, which shifts the stress to the penultimate syllable and therefore loses the written accent. It appears frequently in formal writing, insurance documents, and legislation.

Examples

"El automóvil nuevo consume menos gasolina."

Natural Translation

The new automobile uses less petrol.

Literal Translation

The automobile new consumes less petrol

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