Learning Car Parts In Spanish is incredibly useful, especially if you’re planning a road trip through a Spanish-speaking country. Imagine the peace of mind knowing you can confidently communicate if you encounter car trouble while driving in Spain or Latin America. This guide provides essential vocabulary lists, accompanied by helpful visuals, to get you fluent in discussing partes de coches en español.
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Essential Car Part Names in Spanish
Before we delve into specific parts, it’s important to know how to say “car” in Spanish. The word varies by region, so here are a few common options:
- El auto – Widely used across Latin America.
- El carro – Common in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
- El coche – Used in Mexico and Spain.
- El vehículo – A more formal term, understood in both Latin America and Spain.
Interior Car Parts in Spanish
Let’s start with the car’s interior, the parts you interact with most frequently. If you plan to rent a carro in a Hispanic country, this vocabulary will be particularly 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 |
Further Reading: Understanding Traffic Signs in Spanish
Exterior Car Parts in Spanish
These are the car parts in Spanish that you can see from the outside. Knowing these terms is helpful for describing your car or understanding instructions related to its exterior.
| 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 |
Related Article: Conducir vs Manejar: Exploring the Nuances of Spanish Verbs for Driving
Car Parts Under the Hood in Spanish
These car parts in Spanish are more technical, relating to the engine and mechanical systems. This vocabulary is useful if you want to understand basic car mechanics or explain a problem to a mechanic. Understanding these terms can be helpful for learning how car engines function.
| 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 |
Instrument Panel Car Parts in Spanish
You’ll find these car parts in Spanish on your dashboard’s instrument panel. Knowing these will help you understand your car’s indicators and gauges.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| air bag | la bolsa de aire |
| gas gauge | el medidor de gasolina |
| speedometer | el velocímetro |
| turn signal indicator | la direccional |
| warning lights | las luces de advertencia |
Essential Car-Related Verbs in Spanish
These Spanish verbs related to cars are the most common and will be incredibly useful in various driving situations.
| 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 |
Further Exploration: Top Apps for Learning Spanish While Driving
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Nicole Canún
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Blogger, content creator, and marketer. Proudly Mexican. Visited 30 countries. Passionate about learning from diverse cultures and exploring global cuisines. Asia enthusiast. Fluent in Spanish and English.
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