Learning car parts in Spanish is essential if you’re planning a road trip in a Spanish-speaking country. Imagine driving through Latin America or Spain and not being able to ask for help if your car breaks down!
This article provides helpful vocabulary lists and verbs related to car parts in Spanish, complete with images to aid your learning.
¡Aprendamos de las partes de coches en español! Let’s learn about car parts in Spanish!
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Car Part Names in Spanish
Before we get into specific car parts, let’s understand how to say “car” in Spanish. The word varies depending on the region:
- El auto – Common throughout Latin America.
- El carro – Used in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
- El coche – Common in Mexico and Spain.
- El vehículo – Used across Latin America and Spain, a more formal term.
Inside the Car: Interior Parts in Spanish
Starting with the car’s interior is a great way to begin learning car parts in Spanish, as these are the components we interact with most often.
If you’re renting a car in a Hispanic country, this list of interior car parts in Spanish will be incredibly useful.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| accelerator | el acelerador |
| brake | el freno |
| clutch | el clutch |
| gears | las marchas |
| glove compartment | la guantera |
| handbrake | el freno de mano |
| horn | el claxon |
| mats | los tapetes |
| rearview mirror | el espejo retrovisor |
| seatbelt | el cinturón |
| seats | los asientos |
| steering wheel | el volante |
| power steering | la dirección asistida |
Related Vocabulary: Traffic Signs in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide
Outside the Car: Exterior Car Parts in Spanish
These are the car parts in Spanish you can see from the outside. Knowing these terms is helpful for describing your car or understanding instructions.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| bumper | el parachoque |
| door handles | las manijas de las puertas |
| doors | las puertas |
| front and back fenders | las defensas delantera y trasera |
| grill | la parrilla |
| headlights | los faros |
| hood | el capó |
| hub caps | los rines |
| indicator lights | las direccionales |
| license plate | las placas |
| outside mirrors | los espejos laterales |
| roof | el techo |
| sunroof | el quemacocos |
| tail light | la luz trasera |
| trunk | la cajuela |
| wheels | las llantas |
| windows | las ventanas |
| windshield | el parabrisas |
| windshield wipers | el limpiaparabrisas |
Further Reading: Conducir vs Manejar: The Nuances of Spanish Verbs for Driving
Under the Hood: Engine Parts in Spanish
These car parts in Spanish are more technical, relating to the car’s engine and mechanical systems. This vocabulary is useful for understanding how cars function or if you’re discussing car repairs.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| air filter | el filtro de aire |
| alternator | la luz de advertencia del alternador |
| battery | la batería |
| belt | la banda |
| camshaft | el árbol de levas |
| carburetor | el carburador |
| catalytic converter | el convertidor catalítico |
| coil | la bobina |
| combustion chamber | la cámara de combustión |
| crankshaft | el cigüeñal |
| gas pump | la bomba de gasolina |
| ignition | la ignición |
| piston rod | la biela |
| pulley | la polea |
| radiator | el radiador |
| exhaust valve | la válvula de escape |
| thermostat | el termostato |
| vacuum diaphragm | el diafragma |
| valve | la válvula |
| voltage | el voltaje |
Dashboard Details: Instrument Panel Parts in Spanish
These car parts in Spanish are found on the dashboard instrument panel. They are crucial for monitoring your car’s performance while driving.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| air bag | la bolsa de aire |
| gas gauge | el medidor de la gasolina |
| speedometer | el velocímetro |
| turn signal indicator | la direccional |
| warning lights | las luces de advertencia |
Car-Related Verbs in Spanish
These verbs related to car parts in Spanish are essential for communicating about driving and car maintenance.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| to accelerate | acelerar |
| to back up, to reverse | retroceder / echarse en reversa |
| to brake | frenar |
| to change lanes | cambiar de carril |
| to fasten your seat belt | abrochar tu cinturón de seguridad |
| to fill up the tank | llenar el tanque |
| to park | estacionar |
| to run out of gas | quedarse sin gasolina |
| to slow down | reducir la velocidad |
| to speed up | aumentar la velocidad |
| to start a car | prender el coche / arrancar un carro |
| to start the ignition | iniciar el motor |
| to stop the car | parar el auto |
Listen and Learn: 8 Effective Apps to Learn Spanish While Driving
Take the Fast Lane to Spanish Fluency
Learning Spanish is a fantastic investment. It can help you navigate car troubles, boost your career prospects, and connect with millions more people. Spanish is spoken by over 580 million people globally, including 41 million in the U.S., according to CNN.
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By Nicole Canún
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Blogger, content creator, and marketer. Proudly Mexican. Been to 30 countries. I love learning from different cultures and trying their cuisines. Obsessed with Asia. Fluent in Spanish and English, not so much in French.
