Voiture is the most common way to say “car” in French. But did you know there are many other options?

As you navigate the roads of France, or simply chat about vehicles with French speakers, you might find yourself needing a few different terms for "car."

Let’s hit the road and explore some common, and not-so-common, ways to say “car” in French!

The standard 'car' – voiture

Voiture is the most basic and common word for 'car' in French.

Unlike some nouns, voiture is always feminine. This means you'll always use feminine articles and adjectives with it. The singular form is une voiture (a car), and the plural is des voitures (cars).

Voiture can be used in any situation, from formal discussions to casual conversations. It's the universally accepted term for 'car' and is always appropriate.

While voiture is standard, you might also hear other words like auto or bagnole.

The word auto is a shorter, slightly more casual synonym for voiture, often used in compound words like auto-école (driving school). Bagnole is a very informal, slang term for 'car', similar to 'wheels' or 'clunker' in English, and should be used only in very casual settings among close friends.

For example, you'd say J'ai acheté une nouvelle voiture (I bought a new car) in most contexts. You could say J'ai mon auto (I have my car) in a casual way, but J'ai ma bagnole (I have my clunker/wheels) is much more informal and implies a less-than-perfect car or a very relaxed context.

Voiture is also part of many common expressions, such as voiture de sport (sports car), voiture d'occasion (used car), or voiture autonome (self-driving car).

When in doubt, always use voiture. It is always correct and understood, regardless of the situation or the type of car, making it the safest choice for learners.

France has a strong car culture, with many iconic French brands like Renault, Peugeot, and Citroën. Cars are essential for daily life in many regions, especially outside major cities, making voiture a fundamental word in the French vocabulary.

💡 * J'ai une nouvelle voiture. (I have a new car.)

Elle prend sa voiture pour aller au travail. (She takes her car to go to work.)

Nous avons loué une voiture pour les vacances. (We rented a car for the holidays.)

C'est une voiture très rapide. (It's a very fast car.)

Les enfants jouent avec des petites voitures. (The children are playing with toy cars.)

The 'automobile' – automobile

While voiture is the most common French word for 'car,' the term automobile is its more formal and historically significant counterpart. It directly translates to 'automobile' in English.

The word automobile is a fascinating blend of Greek and Latin roots: auto- meaning 'self' (from Ancient Greek autós) and -mobile meaning 'moving' (from Latin mobilis). This perfectly describes a vehicle that moves by itself, without being pulled by animals.

You'll most frequently encounter automobile in formal writing, technical documents, legal texts, or official contexts. For example, a car manufacturer's specifications or an insurance policy might use automobile.

In everyday conversation, French speakers almost exclusively use voiture (feminine noun) to refer to a car. While automobile is perfectly understood, it sounds quite formal or even a bit archaic in casual speech, much like using 'motor vehicle' instead of 'car' in English.

Interestingly, the common abbreviation auto (feminine noun) is derived directly from automobile. This short form is widely used in casual French, particularly when referring to car-related concepts like 'auto-école' (driving school) or 'salon de l'auto' (car show).

To summarize, use voiture for general, everyday references to a car. Opt for automobile when precision, formality, or a technical context is required. And don't hesitate to use auto in common compound terms or casual mentions.

💡 * L'industrie automobile est un secteur clé de l'économie française. (The automotive industry is a key sector of the French economy.)

Le permis de conduire est nécessaire pour piloter une automobile. (A driving license is necessary to drive an automobile.)

J'ai acheté une nouvelle voiture le mois dernier. (I bought a new car last month.)

Mon auto est en panne. (My car has broken down.)

Il y a eu un accident d'automobile sur l'autoroute. (There was a car accident on the highway.)

The 'vehicle' – véhicule

The French word véhicule directly translates to 'vehicle' in English, making it one of the more intuitive vocabulary items for English speakers.

In French, véhicule serves as a general term encompassing any mode of transport. This includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and even boats or aircraft. It's an umbrella term for anything that transports people or goods.

Grammatically, véhicule is a masculine noun. Therefore, you will use the indefinite article un (un véhicule) or the definite article le (le véhicule) when referring to it.

While voiture specifically refers to a 'car,' véhicule is a much broader category. You would use véhicule when the specific type of transport isn't crucial, or when you're referring to a mode of transport that isn't a car, such as 'commercial vehicles' (véhicules utilitaires).

Similar to its English counterpart, véhicule can also be used in a figurative sense to mean a 'medium,' 'means,' or 'conduit' for an idea, message, or emotion. For example, 'Language is a vehicle for thought' would be 'Le langage est un véhicule de la pensée'.

💡 *Il y a beaucoup de véhicules sur la route. (There are many vehicles on the road.)*Le parking est plein de véhicules. (The parking lot is full of vehicles.)*Quel est votre véhicule préféré ? (What is your favorite vehicle?)*Ce journal est un véhicule important pour diffuser l'information. (This newspaper is an important vehicle for spreading information.)*Les véhicules électriques sont de plus en plus populaires. (Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular.)

The 'ride' (informal, slang for car) – bagnole

Bagnole is a common, informal French slang term for a car, equivalent to "ride" or "wheels" in English.

While it can refer to any car, bagnole often carries a casual or slightly depreciative tone, sometimes implying an old or beat-up vehicle, though it's widely used for any car in informal contexts.

Bagnole is a feminine noun. You'll always use it with feminine articles and adjectives, such as la bagnole (the car) or ma bagnole (my car).

It's typically used in very informal settings among friends or family, and you wouldn't use it in formal conversations or professional contexts.

💡 * J'ai acheté une nouvelle bagnole. (I bought a new car/ride.)

Ma vieille bagnole est en panne. (My old car/ride broke down.)

On prend ta bagnole pour y aller ? (Shall we take your car/ride to go there?)

C'est une belle bagnole que tu as là ! (That's a nice car/ride you've got there!)

The 'wheels' (informal, slang for car) – caisse

The 'wheels' (informal, slang for car) – caisse

In French slang, caisse is a very common and informal term used to refer to a car. It's the equivalent of saying 'wheels' or 'ride' in English.

Literally meaning 'box' or 'crate,' the term caisse is humorously applied to a vehicle, often implying it's an old, beat-up, or just a basic mode of transport, though it can apply to any car informally.

This word is highly informal and almost exclusively used among friends or in very casual settings. You would never use caisse in a formal conversation, a business context, or when speaking to someone you don't know well.

It conveys a sense of familiarity and often a lack of pretentiousness about the vehicle. It's a staple in everyday, relaxed French conversations, especially among younger people or close acquaintances.

Use caisse to sound natural and integrate into informal French discussions about cars, but always be mindful of the context and your audience.

💡 * J'ai acheté une nouvelle caisse! (I bought a new car!)

Ma caisse est en panne, je dois prendre le bus. (My car broke down, I have to take the bus.)

On prend ta caisse ou la mienne pour aller à la plage ? (Are we taking your car or mine to go to the beach?)

Il a une vieille caisse mais elle roule encore très bien. (He has an old jalopy but it still runs very well.)

Fais gaffe avec ma caisse, s'il te plaît ! (Be careful with my car, please!)

The 'sports car' – voiture de sport

When you want to talk about a 'sports car' in French, the most direct and common term you'll use is voiture de sport.

Literally translating to 'car of sport,' une voiture de sport refers to an automobile designed for high performance, speed, and often distinctive, aerodynamic styling. These vehicles prioritize driving dynamics over practicality.

This term is widely understood and used in everyday conversation to describe any car that fits the high-performance category, from a powerful coupé to a convertible built for speed. It's a general, descriptive phrase.

For extremely fast or high-end sports cars, you might also hear the term un bolide, which evokes speed and power, or simply une supercar (often used as an anglicism) for ultra-luxury, ultra-performance vehicles.

In France, owning a voiture de sport is often seen as a symbol of luxury and passion for driving, much like in many other parts of the world. They are admired for their engineering and aesthetic appeal.

💡 * J'ai vu une magnifique voiture de sport rouge hier. (I saw a magnificent red sports car yesterday.)

Mon rêve est d'acheter une voiture de sport un jour. (My dream is to buy a sports car one day.)

Les voitures de sport sont souvent chères à assurer. (Sports cars are often expensive to insure.)

Il adore les bolides rapides. (He loves fast cars/speed demons.)

C'est une supercar impressionnante. (That's an impressive supercar.)

The 'family car' – voiture familiale

The term for a 'family car' in French is voiture familiale.

This phrase refers to a car specifically designed or used for families, typically implying space and practicality for multiple passengers and luggage.

As voiture is a feminine noun, voiture familiale is always feminine. It can encompass various car types like station wagons (break) or minivans (monospace).

💡 * Nous avons acheté une nouvelle voiture familiale pour nos vacances. (We bought a new family car for our vacation.)

Beaucoup de familles optent pour une voiture familiale pour le confort. (Many families opt for a family car for comfort.)

Quelle est la meilleure voiture familiale pour cinq personnes ? (What is the best family car for five people?)

Sa voiture familiale est assez grande pour tous les enfants et les bagages. (His family car is big enough for all the children and luggage.)

The 'electric car' – voiture électrique

The most direct and common way to say 'electric car' in French is voiture électrique. This term is widely understood and used in all contexts, from everyday conversation to official documents.

As voiture (car) is a feminine noun in French, the adjective électrique (electric) agrees with it, forming the feminine singular phrase une voiture électrique. For multiple electric cars, it becomes des voitures électriques.

In informal conversations or when the context is already established, you might hear people refer to an electric car simply as une électrique. This is similar to saying 'an electric one' in English.

💡 * J'aimerais acheter une voiture électrique l'année prochaine. (I would like to buy an electric car next year.)

Les voitures électriques sont de plus en plus populaires en France. (Electric cars are becoming more and more popular in France.)

La recharge d'une voiture électrique prend du temps. (Charging an electric car takes time.)

Est-ce que tu as déjà conduit une électrique ? (Have you ever driven an electric one?)

The 'vintage car' – voiture de collection

The most accurate and widely used French term for 'vintage car' or 'classic car' is voiture de collection.

Literally translating to 'collection car,' voiture de collection emphasizes that the vehicle is valued for its historical, aesthetic, or technical interest, much like an item in a collection. It's not just any old car, but one with a special status.

To be considered a voiture de collection, a vehicle typically needs to be over a certain age (often 30 years in France for legal purposes), no longer produced, and maintained in its original condition or restored according to period specifications. It represents a piece of automotive history.

While voiture ancienne (old car) can sometimes be used, it's a broader term. A voiture de collection is always an ancienne, but an ancienne isn't necessarily a voiture de collection. The 'de collection' part confers a specific status, often with legal and insurance implications.

You might also hear véhicule de collection (collection vehicle) which is a more general term. For cars from the 80s and 90s gaining classic status, the term youngtimer is sometimes used, though these are less formal translations of 'vintage car' in a broad sense.

💡 * J'ai vu une magnifique voiture de collection au rassemblement ce matin. (I saw a magnificent vintage car at the rally this morning.)

Posséder une voiture de collection est une passion coûteuse. (Owning a vintage car is an expensive passion.)

Ma grand-mère a toujours sa vieille voiture, mais ce n'est pas une voiture de collection. (My grandmother still has her old car, but it's not a vintage car.)

Les assurances pour les voitures de collection ont des conditions spécifiques. (Insurance for vintage cars has specific conditions.)

Ce modèle est très recherché par les collectionneurs de voitures. (This model is highly sought after by car collectors.)

Are there other ways to say 'car' in French?

Are there other ways to say “car” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “car” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire voiture en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for voiture on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about cars.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of cars, or words about vehicles in French, the WordReference entry for voiture is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: Le voyage est une espèce de porte par où l'on sort de la réalité comme pour pénétrer dans une réalité inexplorée qui semble un rêve. (Travel is a kind of door through which one leaves reality to enter into an unexplored reality that seems like a dream.)

9 ways to say "car" in French