car
gb/kˈɑɹ/ us/kˈɑɹ/
A1
English
~ 300
autó, kocsi, vagon
NOUN
A1
1
autó
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] drives [a car]
She bought a new car last week.
Múlt héten vett egy új autót.
I left my keys in the car.
Az autóban hagytam a kulcsaimat.
They drove across the country in their old car.
The car was parked outside the house.
He washed the car on Sunday morning.
Learner examples
This is my car.
Ez az én autóm.
I drive my car to work.
A saját autómmal járok munkába.
The car is red.
We have one car.
He cleans his car every week.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'car' with 'bus' or 'truck' when referring to any vehicle. Remind them that 'car' usually means a small passenger vehicle.
Meaning
Motor vehicle for road transport
Collocations
drive a car
|buy a car
|park a car
|rent a car
|get into a car
Synonyms
automobile (Slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech, especially in American English.)
|
vehicle (A broader term that includes many types of transport, not just cars.)
Antonyms
bicycle (A human-powered two-wheeled vehicle, the opposite in terms of propulsion and structure.)
Themes
transportation
|daily life
|travel
|daily_life
Definition
A vehicle with four wheels and an engine that carries people on roads.
A motor vehicle with four wheels, usually powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor, designed to carry a small number of passengers.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] boards [a train car]
We sat in the last car of the subway train.
A metrószerelvény utolsó kocsijában ültünk.
The freight car was loaded with coal.
A tehervagon szénnel volt megrakva.
She moved to a quieter car to read.
Learner examples
We are in the first car of the train.
A vonat első kocsijában vagyunk.
The sleeping car is full.
A hálókocsi tele van.
This train has ten cars.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'car' only means a road vehicle and do not realize it can also refer to part of a train.
Meaning
Railway or cable transport compartment
Collocations
passenger car
|freight car
|sleeping car
Synonyms
carriage (Common in British English for passenger compartments on trains.)
|
wagon (Used in American English mainly for freight sections of trains.)
Antonyms
locomotive (The engine unit that pulls the train, opposite in function to passenger or freight cars.)
Themes
transportation
|travel
|daily_life
Definition
One part of a train where people sit or goods are kept.
A separate section of a train, subway, or cable transport system used for carrying passengers or goods.
Grammar
Dictionary form
car
IPA
GB/kˈɑɹ/
US/kˈɑɹ/
Syllables & stress
car (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (car)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: car
- Plural: cars
Word family
Forms
cars
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
carless
adjective
Advanced or less common
carpool
noun B2
motorcar
noun
Expressions
car accident
1/kˈɑɹ ˈæksədənt/
fixed phrase
Unplanned collision involving cars
An event when cars crash into something or each other by mistake.
Examples
- She broke her leg in a car accident.
- The highway was closed due to a serious car accident.
car keys
1/kˈɑɹ kˈiz/
fixed phrase
Keys for operating a motor vehicle
The keys you use to start and open your car.
Examples
- I can’t find my car keys anywhere.
- She handed me her car keys before leaving.
car trouble
1/kˈɑɹ tɹˈʌbəl/
fixed phrase
Problems with a motor vehicle
When your car does not work well or stops working.
Examples
- We had some car trouble on the way to the beach.
- He’s late because of car trouble this morning.
get in the car
1/ɡˈɛt ˈɪn ðə kˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
Enter a motor vehicle
To go inside a car so you can travel in it.
Examples
- Please get in the car; we’re leaving now.
- She got in the car and started the engine.
hit by a car
1/hˈɪt bˈaɪ ə kˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
Struck by a moving vehicle
When a moving car hits a person or object.
Examples
- He was hit by a car while crossing the street.
- The dog was nearly hit by a car.