Certainly the vast majority of Americans refer to motor-cars as “cars”, although they're well aware that they're also called automobiles or “autos”. People who work in the automotive business are more likely to use the word “automobile”, and people are more likely to refer to more upscale motor-cars as automobiles.
In fact, naming your car is fairly common; a new survey found that 56% of Americans name their vehicles. As for the names, 42 percent get their names from a prominent feature, like the color or the sound it makes, 20$ come from popular movie, TV Shows, or songs, and 17% of car names are inspired by famous people.
The correct pronunciation of “vehicle” is “VEE-uh-kul.” (See How to pronounce VEHICLE in English. There are some regions in the US, however, especially in the Southeast, that pronounce it as two separate words: “VEE” “hick-ul.” There is no logical reason for this. It seems to be just “local option.”
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Do Americans say car or auto?
Certainly the vast majority of Americans refer to motor-cars as “cars”, although they're well aware that they're also called automobiles or “autos”. People who work in the automotive business are more likely to use the word “automobile”, and people are more likely to refer to more upscale motor-cars as automobiles.
It is also suggested that the term "SUV" has replaced "jeep" as a general term for off-road vehicles. American dictionary definitions for SUVs include: "rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis" "automobile similar to a station wagon but built on a light truck frame"
In the entire hypothetical glossary of car terms, there are more synonyms for a car than anything else. These words include a whip, beater, crate, heap, jalopy, sleeper, and the good old POS. Admittedly, the latter is an acronym, but it's still used relatively frequently.
Bimmer, beemer, beamer – how BMW got its nicknames. “Bimmer,” “beamer” and “beemer” are all common nicknames for BMW vehicles. But where do they come from? Read on as we explain the origin of each nickname and what it all has to do with motorcycle racing.
The part of the car used to hold items you won't need access to without stopping the vehicle is called the boot in the UK, and the trunk in the US. These words may be different, but their meaning is incredibly similar when taken back to their origins.
Tires is the standard American English spelling, whereas Tyres is the British English spelling. If you are based in the United Kingdom, tyres sold online will use the British English spelling of 'tyres'- such as ourselves here at National Tyres and Autocare.
The term windshield is used generally throughout North America. The term windscreen is the usual term in the British Isles and Australasia for all vehicles. In the US windscreen refers to the mesh or foam placed over a microphone to minimize wind noise, while a windshield refers to the front window of a car.
BMWs in China have been referred to as “bimmers” and “bao-ma” since the 1990s (bao rhymes with cow). This endearment literally means “lovely horse” in English. Horses are revered as holy animals in Chinese culture, and their symbolic worth extends to their symbolic power over one's competitors.
BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which is German for Bavarian Motor Works. That's because the birthplace of BMW is located in the financial and industrial powerhouse of Bavaria, which is the southernmost and largest state in Germany.
Similar to necking, parking is a slang term for “the act of kissing and caressing in a parked car.” This usage was most popular in the '40s and '50s, likely due to the rise of car culture and drive-in movie theaters changing the landscape of dating.
The British term people mover is also used in Australian English to describe a passenger van. The American usage of "van" which describes a cargo box trailer or semi-trailer is used rarely, if ever, in Australia.
A hatchback is called a liftback when the opening area is very sloped and is lifted up to open. If you're looking for more cargo room than a traditional sedan can provide, a four-door hatchback may be a better fit for you.
In the US, we call a sport utility vehicle an SUV, while in the UK it goes by the name 4X4 (four by four). If you're shopping for a 4×4 in the USA, the car salesman is going to assume you're looking for any vehicle that offers Four-Wheel Drive – an option that comes on all sorts of models.
