There are a few potential answers when someone asks “What do you call a car in Mexico?”. The most literal response would be that cars in Mexico are referred to using the Spanish words for car, such as “coche” or “automóvil”. However, there are also some slang terms and nicknames used to refer to cars in Mexican Spanish. In this article, we’ll take a look at the common Spanish words for car used in Mexico, as well as some of the slang terms, brand names, and nicknames that are used to refer to cars. We’ll also discuss how car culture shapes the language used to describe automobiles across different regions of Mexico.
Common Spanish Words for Car in Mexico
Just like in other Spanish-speaking countries, the most generic terms for car in Mexico are “coche” and “automóvil.” “Coche” refers to any standard passenger vehicle, while “automóvil” is a more technical term referring specifically to self-propelled vehicles.
Some other common Spanish names for cars in Mexico include:
– Camioneta: Pickup truck
– Sedán: Sedan
– Compacto: Compact car, economy car
– Deportivo: Sports car
– Clásico: Classic car
– Lujoso: Luxury vehicle
– Todo terreno or SUV: Sport utility vehicle, off-road vehicle
Regional variations in dialect mean some parts of Mexico use “carro” instead of “coche” for car. But in general, “coche” and “automóvil” are understood nationwide.
Slang Terms and Nicknames
In addition to the standard Spanish names, Mexican Spanish includes a ton of slang terms and colorful nicknames for cars. These casual terms often reference the car’s appearance, features, or stereotypes about who drives them.
Some common Mexican slang words for cars include:
– Chafita: Old beater car, junker
– Ch chocolate or chocolate: Brown car
– Traque or traka: Muscle car or suped-up car
– Carrucha: Station wagon
– Suburban: SUV, crossover
– Jetta: Volkswagen Jetta
– Tsuru: Nissan Tsuru, common affordable car
– Chafi: Shortened version of chafita beater car
– Clavo: Literally “nail”, means junky car
– Polarizado: Car with tinted windows
– Blindado: Armored vehicle
– Chueco: Lowered car with alterations
Nicknames are also commonly used, especially for luxury, vintage, and sports car models. Some examples include:
– Cacharro: Refers to an impressive sports or muscle car.
– Chatita: Term of endearment for an adorable vintage car.
– Chula: Also a term of endearment calling a nice car beautiful.
– La nave: The ship, referring to a large luxurious vehicle.
As you can see, Mexican car terms often use playful language comparing vehicles to people or objects based on their appearance and condition.
Regional Car Culture and Slang
Just like how accents and dialects vary across different parts of Mexico, the slang terminology for cars also differs by region. This reflects the unique car cultures that have developed in areas across Mexico.
In northern Mexico, American influence means trucks are more common. “Troca” is frequently used to refer to pickup trucks and SUVs. Muscle cars and classics from the U.S. are also popular, known as “clásicos gabachos” (American classics).
In central Mexico, aged Volkswagen Beetles or “vochos” remain ubiquitous on city streets as reliable and affordable transportation. Due to their rounded shape, these are sometimes called “lentes” (eyeglasses).
The Mexico City metro area has its own car culture and slang. Small cars for navigating crowded city streets are often called “vochitos” (little VWs) or “chiquicoches” (tiny cars). Heavily modified rides might be “tuneados” (tuned up) or “chuecos” (crooked).
In coastal regions like Baja California, trucks and older American muscle cars are common. These are known locally as “carruchas” (station wagons), “trakes” (suped up cars), or “chocolates” (brown cars).
Brand Name Use
Unlike English, Spanish does not typically adapt brand names of cars. For example, a Ford Mustang would simply be referred to as a “Mustang”, not a “Mustang car”. However, some brand names have become so common in Mexican car culture that they operate as regular nouns. These include “Tsuru” for the Nissan models and “Jetta” for Volkswagens.
In other cases, model names might be converted to Spanish pronunciations, such as “Bora” instead of “Volkswagen Bora”. But for the most part, branding and model names remain the same as their English originals.
Conclusion
To answer the question “What do you call a car in Mexico?”, there are many potential terms beyond just the standard Spanish “coche” or “automóvil”. Slang, nicknames, brand names, and regional terms reflect the diversity of automobiles seen across Mexico. From old VWs called “vochos” and “lentes”, to American muscle “trakes”, to pimped up “tuneados”, the lingo used for cars adapts to local cultures. Just like the vehicles themselves, Mexican car terms come in all shapes in sizes!
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Coche | Car, passenger vehicle |
| Automóvil | Self-propelled passenger vehicle |
| Camioneta | Pickup truck |
| Sedán | Sedan |
| Compacto | Compact, economy car |
| Deportivo | Sports car |
| Clásico | Classic car |
| Lujoso | Luxury vehicle |
| Todo terreno/SUV | Sport utility vehicle |
| Chafita | Old beater, junker |
| Chocolate | Brown car |
| Traque/Traka | Muscle car, suped up car |
| Carrucha | Station wagon |
| Suburban | SUV, crossover |
| Jetta | Volkswagen Jetta |
| Tsuru | Nissan Tsuru |
| Polarizado | Car with tinted windows |
| Blindado | Armored vehicle |
| Chueco | Lowered, modified car |
| Cacharro | Impressive sports/muscle car |
| Chatita | Cute vintage car |
| Chula | Beautiful, nice car |
| La nave | Large luxurious vehicle |
| Vocho | Volkswagen Beetle |
| Lentes | Volkswagen Beetle |
| Vochito | Small Volkswagen |
| Chiquicoche | Tiny city car |
| Tuneado | Heavily modified car |
| Troca | Pickup truck, SUV |
| Clásico gabacho | American classic car |