Navigating car repairs can be challenging, especially when language barriers come into play. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to communicate with a mechanic about a specific car part, you’re not alone. Automotive terminology is a specialized field, filled with jargon that can be confusing even for native English speakers. This article aims to clarify some common automotive terms, focusing on the essential phrase “Balero In English Car Part,” and expand your understanding of car part vocabulary for better communication and car maintenance.
Originally compiled to help English speakers communicate with Spanish-speaking mechanics, particularly in regions like Mexico, this guide builds upon resources like Rolly Brook’s “Mexican Spanish English Car Parts Lexicon” to offer a more comprehensive and SEO-optimized resource for an English-speaking audience. We’ll not only translate terms but also provide context and explanations to enhance your understanding.
Decoding “Balero” and Other Key Car Part Terms
So, what exactly is a “balero” in English car part terminology? “Balero” is a Spanish term that commonly translates to “bearing” in English. However, in the automotive context, “balero” most frequently refers to a wheel bearing.
Wheel bearings are crucial components in your car’s wheel assembly. They are sets of steel balls or rollers held together by a metal ring, allowing your wheels to rotate smoothly with minimal friction. Understanding the term “balero” and its English equivalent, “wheel bearing,” is just the beginning. Let’s delve into a broader glossary of car parts, categorized for easy navigation.
Essential Gasoline Engine Parts: English to Spanish and Back
The engine is the heart of your vehicle. Here’s a breakdown of key gasoline engine parts, with both English and Spanish terms for clarity:
English – Spanish
- Air to Fuel Ratio (A/F) – Relación de Aire/Combustible
- Belt tensioner pulley – tensor de la correa
- Combustion chamber – cámara de combustión
- Camshaft – árbol de levas
- Camshaft drive belt – faja de distribucion
- Crankshaft – cigüeñal
- Engine block – bloque del motor
- Exhaust manifold – válvula de escape
- Flywheel – volante
- Fuel injector – inyector
- Gasket – junta, empaque, sello
- Head cover – tapa de la cabeza
- Head gasket – junta de la cabeza OR Empaque de Cabezote OR Cigueñal de cabezote
- Hydraulic valve lifter – buso
- Inlet valve – válvula de admisión
- Insufficient Flow – Flujo Insuficiente
- Intake manifold – colector de admisión
- Misfire (Engine) – Falla (de Ignición)
- Motor – motor
- Motor Mount – Base del motor
- Oil – aceite
- Drain plug – tapón del aceite
- Pan – cárter
- Pan gasket – junta del cárter
- O ring – retén
- Oxygen Sensor – Sensor de Oxigena
- Piston – pistón
- Piston ring – anillo
- Piston rod – biela
- Piston skirt – camisas del pistón
- Pulley – polea
- Rocker arm – balancín
- Seal (shaft seal) – sello sinfin
- Serpentine Belt – Banda Multiple
- Spark plug – bujía
- Thermostat – thermostato
- Timing belt – banda de tiempo or faja de tiempo
- Too Lean – Demasiado Pobre
- Too Rich – Demasiado Rico
- Vacuum diaphragm – diafragma
- Valve – válvula
- Valve cover – tapadera de válvulas, tapa de pistón
- Valve cover gasket – empaque de tapadera de válvulas
- Valve spring – resorte de válvula
- Voltage (High/Low) – Voltaje Alta / Voltage Bajo
Spanish – English
- Aceite – Oil
- I/F (A/C) Relación de Aire/Combustible – Air to Fuel Ratio (A/F)
- Anillo – Piston ring
- Arbol de levas – Crankshaft
- Balancín – Rocker arm
- Banda de tiempo – Timing belt, aka faja de tiempo
- Banda Multiple – Serpentine Belt
- Base del motor – Motor Mount
- Biela – Piston rod
- Bloque del motor – Engine block
- Bujía – Spark plug
- Buso – Hydraulic valve lifter
- Cámara de combustión – Combustion chamber
- Camisas del pistón – Piston skirt
- Cárter – Oil pan
- Cigüeñal – Crankshaft
- Colector de admisión – Intake manifold
- Demasiado Pobre – Too Lean
- Demasiado Rico – Too Rich
- Diafragma – Vacuum diaphragm
- Empaque – Gasket
- Empaque de tapadera de válvulas – Valve cover gasket
- Faja de tiempo – Timing belt (aka banda de tiempo)
- Faja de distribucion – Camshaft drive belt
- Falla Ignición – (Engine) Misfire
- Inyector – Fuel injector
- Flujo Insuficiente – Insufficient Flow
- Junta – Gasket
- De la cabeza – Head gasket
- Del cárter – Oil pan gasket
- Motor – Motor
- Mugre – Black sludge in a motor
- Pistón – Piston
- Polea – Pulley
- Resorte de válvula – Valve spring
- Retén – O ring
- Sello – Gasket
- Sello sinfin – A basic shaft seal (steel outer support ring w/spring tensioned rubber seal)
- Sensor de Oxigena – Oxygen Sensor
- Tapa de la cabeza – Head cover
- Tapa de pistón – Valve cover
- Tapadera de válvulas – Valve cover
- Tapón del aceite – Oil drain plug
- Tensor de la correa – Belt tensioner (pulley)
- Termostato – Thermostat
- Válvula – Valve
- Válvula de admisión – Inlet valve
- Válvula de escape – Exhaust manifold
- Volante – Flywheel
- Voltaje Alta / Voltage Bajo – Voltage (High/Low)
Inside the Dashboard and Controls: Bilingual Terminology
The dashboard and controls are where you interact most directly with your car. Here’s a useful vocabulary list:
English – Spanish
- Accelerator – acelerador
- Air bag – bolsa de aire
- Brake – freno
- Brake or hood release lever (incl. its cable) – chicote
- Climate control – clima
- Clutch – clutch, embrague
- Cruise control – velocidad fija
- Emergency brake – freno de emergencia
- Floor mat – tapete, alfombra
- Fuse – fusible
- Gearshift – cambio de velocidades, palanca de cambios
- Glove box – guantera, cajuelita
- Hazard signal switch – palanca luces intermitentes
- Heater core – nucleo de calentador
- Hood or brake release lever (incl. its cable) – chicote
- Horn – claxon
- Ignition switch – encendió
- Mirror – espejo
- Rearview – espejo retrovisor
- Side – espejo lateral
- Vanity — – espejo
- Outside mirror control – control del espejo
- Radio – radio
- Sludge (in a motor) – mugre
- Steering column – eje
- Steering wheel – volante, guía
- Stick shift – palanca de velocidades
- Turn signal lever – palanca de direccionales
- Vent – ventila, ventilador
- Visor – visera
- Wiper switch – palanca limpia+brisas
Spanish – English
- Acelerado – Accelerator
- Alfombra – Floor mat
- Bolsa de aire – Air bag
- Cajuelita – Glove box
- Cambio de velocidades – Gearshift
- Chicote – Brake or hood release lever (incl. its cable)
- Claxon – Horn
- Clima – Climate control
- Clutch – Clutch
- Control del espejo – Outside mirror control
- Eje – Steering column
- Embrague – Clutch
- Encendió – Ignition switch
- Espejo – Mirror, vanity mirror
- Lateral – Side mirror
- Retrovisor – Rearview mirror
- Freno – Brake
- Freno de emergencia – Emergency brake
- Fusible – Fuse
- Guantera – Glove box
- Guía – Steering wheel
- Luces intermitentes – Hazard light switch
- Nucleo de calentador – Heater core
- Palanca – Lever
- De cambios – Gearshift
- De direccionales – Turn signal lever
- De velocidades – Stick shift
- Limpia+brisas – Wiper switch
- Radio – Radio
- Tapete – Floor mat
- Velocidad fija – Cruise control
- Ventila – Vent
- Ventilador – Vent
- Visera – Visor
- Volante – Steering wheel
Instrument Panel Indicators: English and Spanish Terms
Understanding the symbols and lights on your instrument panel is vital for vehicle maintenance and safety.
English – Spanish
- Gas gauge – medidor de gasolina
- High beam indicator – luz indicadora de larga
- Odometer – cuenta+kilómetros
- Odometer, trip – odómetro
- Speedometer – velocímetro
- Tachometer – tacómetro
- Temperature gage – indicador temperatura
- Turn signal indicator – direccionales
- Warning lights – luces de advertencia
- Alternator – luz de advertencia del alternador
- Door ajar – luz de puerta abierta
- Fuel – luz de advertencia de gasolina
- Oil – luz de advertencia del aceite
- Seat belt – luz del cinturón
- Temperature – luz de advertencia de temperatura
Spanish – English
- Medidor de gasolina – Gas gauge
- Luz indicadora de larga – High beam indicator
- Cuenta+kilómetros – Odometer
- Odómetro – Trip odometer
- Velocímetro – Speedometer
- Tacómetro – Tachometer
- Indicador temperatura – Temperature gage
- Direccionales – Turn signal indicators
- Luz de advertencia – Warning light
- De advertencia del alternador – Alternator
- De puerta abierta – Door ajar
- De advertencia de gasolina – Fuel
- De advertencia del aceite – Oil
- Del cinturón – Seat belt
- De advertencia de temperatura – Temperature
Door Components: Expanding Your Vocabulary
Even the car door has its own set of specific parts.
English – Spanish
- Accessory pocket – bolsillo lateral
- Armrest – descansa+brazo
- Assist grip – jaladora
- Door – puerta
- Door handle – manija
- Door latch – cerradura
- Door lock – seguro
- Door lock button – seguro
- Hinge – bisagra
- Trim panel – tapas de la puerta
- Window handle – manivela del vidrio
Spanish – English
- Bisagra – Hinge
- Bolsillo lateral – Accessory pocket
- Cerradura – Door latch
- Descansa+brazo – Armrest
- Jaladora – Assist grip
- Manija – Door handle
- Manivela del vidrio – Window handle
- Puerta – Door
- Seguro – Door lock
- Seguro – Door lock button
- Tapas de la puerta – Trim panel
Seat Terminology: From Backrest to Buckle
Understanding seat components can be helpful for repairs or modifications.
English – Spanish
- Back rest – respaldo
- Backseat – asiento trasero
- Center arm rest – descansa
- Child’s seat – asiento para niño
- Head rest – reposa+cabezas
- Seat – asiento
- Adjustment knob – rueda para centrar asiento
- Belt – cinturón, cinturón de seguridad
- Belt buckle – seguro de cinturón
- Bench — – asiento
- Bucket — – individual
- Shoulder belt – cinturón
- Sliding lever – palanca del deslizador
Spanish – English
- Asiento – Bench seat
- Asiento – Seat
- Indiviual – Bucket seat
- Para niño – Child’s seat
- Trasero – Backseat
- Cinturón, cinturón de seguridad – Seat belt, shoulder belt
- Descansa – Center arm rest
- Palanca del deslizador – Seat sliding lever
- Reposa+cabezas – Head rest
- Respaldo – Back rest
- Rueda para centrar asiento – Seat adjustment knob
- Seguro de cinturón – Seat belt buckle
Under the Hood Essentials: A Bilingual Guide
The area under the hood is packed with vital components. Let’s explore some key terms:
English – Spanish
- Air bag controller – sensor de seguridad
- A/C compressor – compresor del aire
- Air filter – filtro de aire
- Alternator – alternador
- Alternator belt – banda del alternador
- Band – banda
- Battery – batería, acumulador, pila
- Battery terminal – terminal de batería
- Belt – banda
- Brake booster – servofreno
- Brakes – frenos
- Carburetor – carburador
- Catalytic converter – convertido catalítico
- Coil – bobina
- Cooling fan – abanico
- Crash sensor – sensor de colisión
- Dipstick – varilla del aceite
- Distributor – distribuidor
- Distributor cap – tapa del distribuidor
- Fan belt – banda, banda del abanico
- Filter – filtro
- Gas filter – filtro de gasolina
- Gas pump – bomba de gasolina
- Hose – manguera
- Oil filter – filtro del aceite
- Power steering pump – bomba de la dirección hidráulica
- Radiator – radiador
- Spark plug – bujía
- Spark plug wire – cable de bujía
- Water pump – bomba de agua
Spanish – English
- Abanico – Cooling fan
- Acumulador – Battery
- Alternador – Alternator
- Banda – Belt, band
- Del abanico – Fan belt
- Del alternador – Alternator belt
- Batería – Battery
- Bobina – Ignition coil
- Bomba – Pump
- De agua – Water pump
- De gasolina – Gas pump
- De la dirección hidráulica – Power steering pump
- Bujía – Spark plug
- Cable de bujía – Spark plug wire
- Compresor del aire – Air conditioner compressor
- Carburador – Carburetor
- Distribuidor – Distributor
- Filtro – Filter
- Del aceite – Oil filter
- Del aire – Air filter
- De gasolina – Gas filter
- Frenos – Brakes
- Manguera – Hose
- Pila – Battery
- Radiador – Radiator
- Sensor de colisión – Crash sensor
- Sensor de seguridad – Air bag controller
- Servofreno – Brake booster
- Tapa del distribuidor – Distributor cap
- Terminal de batería – Battery terminal
- Varilla del aceite – Dipstick
Exterior Car Parts: English-Spanish Lexicon
From bumper to taillights, here are the exterior components:
English-Spanish
- Antenna – antena
- Body side molding – moldura lateral
- Bumper (front) – defensa delantera
- Bumper (rear) – defensa trasera
- Center post – poste central
- Fender – guarda polvos
- Gas cap – tapa de la gasolina
- Gas tank door – puerta de la tapa de la gasolina, (commonly just) tapa
- Grille – rejilla
- Hood – toldo, cofre
- Hubcap – copa, tapabocina
- License plate – placa
Lights (various):
- Light – luz; lights – luces
- Light bulb – foco
- Back-up – luz de reversa,
- Back-up (alt) – luz de marcha atrás
- Brake – luz del freno
- Fog – luz antiniebla
- Halogen bulb – foco halógeno
- Headlight – luz delantera, faro
- High beam – luz alta, faro alto
- License plate – luz para placa
- Low beam – luz baja, faro bajo
- Parking – luz para estacionarse
- Socket – zócalo
- Taillight – luz trasera
- Turn signal – luz direccional
- Lug nut – tuercas del ring
- Mud flap – cuvre+polvos
- Quarter window – aleta
- Rims – rines
- Roof – techo
- Sunroof – quemacoco
- Tailgate (of a pickup) – tapa, puerta trasera de camioneta
- Tail light assembly – calavera or mica
- Tire – llanta, pneumatico
- Trunk of a car – maletero, cajuela
- Trunk lid – cajuela
- Wheel – rin
- Window – ventanilla
- Windshield – (el) parabrisas
- Windshield wiper – limpiador, limpia parabrisas
- Wiper – hule de parabrisas, goma de parabrisas
- Wiper arm – brazo
Exterior de la Coche: Spanish-English
- Aleta – Quarter window
- Antena – Antenna
- Calavera (or mica) – Tail light assembly
- Cajuela – Trunk or trunk lid (of a car)
- Cofre – Hood
- Copa – Hubcap
- Cubre+polvos – Mud flap
- Defensa delantera – Bumper (front)
- Defensa trasera – Bumper (rear)
- Goma de parabrisas – Windshield wiper blade
- Guarda+polvos – Fender
- Hule de parabrisas – Windshield wiper blade
- Limpia parabrisas – Windshield wiper
- Limpiador – Windshield wiper
- Llanta – Tire = pneumatico
- Luces (varios):
- Faro – Headlight
- Faro alto – High beam
- Faro bajo – Low beam
- Luz – Light y luces – lights
- Alta – High beam
- Antiniebla – Fog light
- Baja – Low beam
- De marcha atrás – Back-up light
- De reversa – Back-up light
- Del freno – Brake light
- Delantera – Headlight
- Direccional – Turn signal
- Para estacionarse – Parking light
- Para placa – License plate light
- Trasera – Taillight
- Faro – Headlight
- Maletero – Trunk of a car = cajuela
- Mica (or calavera) – Tail light assembly
- Moldura lateral – Body side molding
- Parabrisas – Windshield
- Placa – License plate
- Poste central – Center post
- Pneumatico – Tire = llanta
- Puerta de la tapa de la gasolina – Gas tank door
- Puerta trasera de camioneta – Tailgate (of a pickup)
- Quemacoco – Sunroof
- Rejilla – Grille
- Rin – Wheel / rim
- Tapa de la gasolina – Gas cap
- Tapa – Gas tank door
- Tailgate of a pickup
- Tapabocina – Hubcap
- Tapón de gasolina – Gascap
- Techo – Roof
- Toldo – Hood
- Tuercas del ring – Lug nut
- Ventanilla – Window
- Zócalo – Light bulb socket
Trunk Essentials: What to Keep Handy
For emergencies or routine maintenance, these trunk items are key:
In the Trunk: English-Spanish
- Flare – señal luminosa preventiva
- Jack – gato
- Jumper cables – cables de pasar corriente
- Lug wrench – cruzeta (cross wrench)
- Spare tire – refacción
En la Cajuela: Spanish-English
- Cables de pasar corriente – Jumper cables
- Cruzeta – Lug wrench
- Gato – Jack
- Refacción – Spare tire
- Señal luminosa preventiva – Flare
Under the Car Components: Focusing on “Balero”
The underside of your car houses many critical systems, including the suspension and drivetrain. This is where “balero” becomes particularly relevant.
Under the Car: English-Spanish
- A-frame arm (front suspension) – orquillas or orquidea
- Automatic transmission – transmisión automática
- Axle – eje
- Ball joint – rotula
- Bearing – balero o idioma: ‘caja de bolas’
- Brakes – frenos
- Catalytic converter – convertido catalítico
- Control arm (suspension) – horcilla de suspencion
- Clutch – embrague
- Coil spring – muelle helicoidal
- Crash sensor – sensor de colisión
- CV joint – balero espiga
- CV joint boot – botas de las juntas de velocidad constante (aka botas VC)
- Differential – diferencial
- Disc brake – freno de disco
- Drive shaft – flecha
- Exhaust pipe – tubo de escape
- Front suspension arm – orquillas or orquidea
- Gas (gasoline) – gasolina
- Line – tubo de gasolina
- Tank – tanque de gasolina
- Gearbox – caja de velocidades
- Hydraulic brake line – circuito de frenado
- Leaf spring – muelle
- Muffler – silenciador, mofle
- Radiator – radiador
- Rack and pinion – cremallera
- Shock absorber – amortiguador
- Spring – muelle or resorte
- Tie rod (with or without the ‘end’) – bieleta de direccion (with or w/o ends)
- Tie rod end (part with little ball joint) – terminale de direccion
- Suspension arm – brazo de suspensión
Debajo de le coche: Spanish-English
- Amortiguador – Shock absorber
- Balero – Bearing
- Balero espiga – CV joint
- Bieleta de direccion – Tie rod end
- Botas de las juntas de velocidad constante (botas VC) – CV joint boots
- Brazo de suspensión – Suspension arm
- Caja de bolas (idioma slang) – balero = bearing
- Caja de velocidades – Gearbox
- Circuito de frenado – Hydraulic brake line
- Convertido catalítico – Catalytic converter
- Cremallera – Rack and pinion
- Diferencial – Differential
- Eje – Axle
- Embrague – Clutch
- Flecha – Drive shaft
- Freno de disco – Disc brake
- Frenos – Brakes
- Gasolina – Gas, gasoline
- Horcilla de suspencion – Control arm (suspension)
- Mofle – Muffler
- Muelle – Spring, leaf spring
- Muelle helicoidal – Coil spring
- Orquillas o orquidia – Front suspension A-frame arm
- Radiador – Radiator
- Resorte – Spring
- Rótula – Ball joint
- Sensor de colisión – Crash sensor
- Silenciador – Muffler
- Tanque de gasolina – Gas tank
- Terminale de direccion – Tie rod end (part with the little ball joint)
- Transmisión automática – Automatic transmission
- Tubo de escape – Exhaust pipe
- Tubo de gasolina – Gas line
Other Useful Automotive Terms
Beyond specific parts, here are some general automotive terms that can be helpful:
Other Things: English-Spanish
- 2-door sedan – sedán dos puertas
- 4-door sedan – sedán quatro puertas
- Air – aire
- Air pressure – presión de aire
- Brake fluid – fluido de frenos
- Convertible – descapotable
- To drive – manejar
- Gasket paper – garlo o velamoy
- Hatchback – compuerta trasera
- Light bulb – foco
- Halogen – foco halógeno
- Socket – zócalo
- Limousine – limusina
- Millage – millaje
- Minivan – monovolumen
- Oil level – nivel de aceite
- To patch – remendar
- Patches (tire) – parches
- Pickup truck – camioneta, trucka
- Power steering – dirección hidráulica
- Sports car – deportivo
- Sports utility vehicle (SUV) – vehiculo todo terreno
- To start (the engine) – arrancar
- Station wagon – coche familiar
Otras Cosas: Spanish-English
- Aire – Air
- Arrancar – To start (the engine)
- Camioneta – Pickup truck
- Compuerta trasera – Hatchback
- Coche familiar – Station wagon
- Deportivo – Sports car
- Descapotable – Convertible
- Dirección hidráulica – Power steering
- Fluido de frenos – Brake fluid
- Foco – Light bulb
- Halógeno – Halogen light bulb
- Garlo o velamoy – Gasket paper / gasket stock
- Limusina – Limousine
- Manejar – To drive
- Millaje – Millage
- Monovolumen – Minivan
- Nivel de aceite – Oil level
- Parches – Patches
- Presión de aire – Air pressure
- Remendar – To patch
- Sedán dos puertas – 2-door sedan
- Sedán quatro puertas – 4-door sedan
- Trucka – Pickup truck
- Vehiculo todo terreno – Sports utility vehicle (SUV)
- Zócalo – Light bulb socket
Tools and Equipment Vocabulary
For DIY car maintenance or understanding mechanic discussions, tool names are essential.
Tools etc.: English-Spanish
- Cutter – cortadora de metal
- File – Lima de metal
- Grinder – molinillo
- Hammer – martillo
- Pliers – pinzas
- Ratchet – trinquete
- Sandpaper – Papel de liga
- Screw – tornillo
- Screwdriver – desarmador o destornillador
- Socket set – Juego de llaves de vaso
- Tire – Llanta or neumático
- Tire Tread – rodadura del neumático or Tire Tread = banda de rodedura or Tire Tread = cumbre de llanta
- Tread Separation – Separación de cumbre de llana
- Wheel – Rin
- Wrench – Llave de tuercas
- Wrench Set – juego de llaves
- Wire (tie -solid core) – alambre
- Wire (electrical – stranded) – cable
Herramientas etc: Spanish-English
- Alambre – Tie wire or support wire – solid wire
- Banda de rodedura – Tire Tread
- Cumbre de llanta – Tire Tread
- Cable – Electrical wire or stranded wire
- Desarmador – Screwdriver
- Lima de Metal – metal file
- Juego de llaves (de tuerco) – set of wrenches
- Juego de llaves de vaso – socket set
- Llave – wrench
- Llanta – tire
- Martillo – hammer
- Molinillo – grinder
- Papel de liga – sandpaper
- Pinzas – Pliers
- Rin – Wheel or rim
- Trinquete – ratchet
Automotive Verbs: Actions in Car Repair
Understanding verbs related to car repair can help you describe issues or understand instructions.
Auto Verbs: English-Spanish
- Hit – golpear
- Rotate / twist – hacer girar
- Scrape (clean) – raspar
- Scratch (gouge) – rayar
- Tighten (a bolt) – apretar
- Tighten (a belt) – apretarse
Verbos de Coches: Spanish-English
- Apretar (un tornillo) – tighten a bolt
- Apretarse (un cinturon) – tighten a belt
- Golpear – hit
- Hacer girar – rotate / twist
- Raspar – scrape clean
- Rayar – scratch / gouge
Conclusion: Building Your Automotive Vocabulary
This expanded glossary provides a robust foundation for understanding automotive terminology in both English and Spanish. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, especially key phrases like “balero in english car part” (wheel bearing), you’ll be better equipped to communicate with mechanics, understand repair processes, and maintain your vehicle effectively. Whether you’re dealing with a mechanic who speaks Spanish or simply want to expand your automotive knowledge, this guide is a valuable resource.
This list is a starting point, and the world of automotive terminology is vast. We encourage you to continue learning and expanding your vocabulary. For further in-depth resources, consider exploring comprehensive glossaries like the ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) glossary. Empower yourself with knowledge and drive with confidence!
