Do not mix them up
der Pkw
Auto sounds natural and neutral. Pkw is the formal abbreviation for passenger car.
das Auto
car
/ˈaʊ̯to/- Plural
- die Autos
Das Auto fährt schnell über die Autobahn. The car drives fast on the highway. The four cases
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominativ | das Auto | die Autos |
| akkusativ | das Auto | die Autos |
| dativ | dem Auto | den Autos |
| genitiv | des Autos | der Autos |
A memory tip
Shortened loanwords (Automobil) and many vehicle names are neuter (das Auto, das Flugzeug, das Schiff, das Rad).
Useful expressions
Auto fahren
ein Auto mieten
Your own memory picture
A few lines will do.
What does car look like to you?
- der· blue
- die· red
- das· green
No drawing skills needed.
The word in real life
When Germans say “Auto”
Auto is the normal everyday word; Pkw appears more often in forms, statistics and official letters.
A tiny dialogue
Luna: Nehmen wir das Auto?Shall we take the car?
Benni: Lieber nicht, der Zug ist schneller.Better not, the train is faster.