Yo manejo el carro

[laepelba]

Just a quick question about regional differences. The software that I'm using to learn Spanish uses "manejar" for "to drive" and "carro" for "car". I have heard Spanish speakers say "coche" for "car" and (I think) "conducir" for "drive". And the dictionary here at Tomísimo has some other words (like "auto" and "mando", etc.)

I want to be conversational with Latin Americans speaking Spanish. I'll be going to Mexico in May, and possibly Lima and Uruguay in July. What would be the most conversational and comfortable way a Latin American would say something simple like "I drive the car."??

Thanks!

[Rusty]

You have been taught Latin American Spanish. Manejo el carro is correct for Mexico, Central America and South America. I believe conducir and coche are more popular in Spain.

[laepelba]

Thanks, Rusty.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes, the sentence is I'm driving a car homeward. Estoy conduciendo un carro hacia mi casa. Or I can give you other hint, I'm driving homeward. Estoy conduciendo hacia casa.



I hope my hints can help you.

[ZeroTX]

In central mexico (e.g. Mexico City, Cuernavaca), they use the word "coche" for car. Never heard "carro" ever said. They do indeed use the verb "manejar" not "conducir."

Also, of interesting note some other vocabulary words for central Mexico:
"camión" = a big heavy duty truck... "camióneta" = a van, SUV or maybe pickup truck... I guess you have to be specific about the brand/type of vehicle to figure it out Incidentally, "coche" usually means a regular car, usually a small car in Mexico, like something small and economical.

Here in Texas, they say "carro" for a car and "troca" for a pick-up truck. Never use "troca" in Latin America, it's Spanglish.

[chileno]

Supposedly, coche = car and automobile=auto. Conducir and manejar can be used indistinctly .

Wherever you go, you can use Yo manejo el coche o yo conduzco el coche, will be perfectly understood.

About auto: I am not sure if every Hispanic country will use it like that, although I am sure automóvil will be understood prefectly in every country. :-)


Hernan

[sosia]

coche, carro, auto, turismo...... all are normal cars

[laepelba]

Thanks guys - I just don't want to sound like a textbook when I go to Mexico or Peru this year.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by sosia

coche, carro, auto, turismo...... all are normal cars

Yes, but for example: If you say in chile "manejo un carro", you are not going to be understood easily. If you say "yo manejo el carro" and motion to take the driver's seat. You will be understood, but people *are* going to be looking at each other ...

What I mean by this, is the fact that auto and coche are the most accepted words for car. Carro is something you tug, or whatever... I cannot think clearly this morning.

[CrOtALiTo]

I agree with Sosia's answer, Carro, auto, camion, camioneta, all they are normal vehicles, in fact at Mexico does not exist any different middle them, then I live on Mexico, and I know above my people, and we mostly used the word Conducir, or manejar they are both are acceptable.

[laepelba]

Thanks, Hernan - that's what I'm getting at.

[sosia]

Originally Posted by chileno

Yes, but for example: If you say in chile "manejo un carro", you are not going to be understood easily. If you say "yo manejo el carro" and motion to take the driver's seat. You will be understood, but people *are* going to be looking at each other ...

What I mean by this, is the fact that auto and coche are the most accepted words for car. Carro is something you tug, or whatever... I cannot think clearly this morning.

In Spain
normal: coche
newpapers/news: auto, turismo
In Spain, carro will be understood as a farm carriage/waggon, but in Mexico it's usual...