I know a lot about cars, man. I can look at any car’s headlights and tell you exactly which way it’s coming.
Dude, I know all about cars! I can look at the headlights of any car and say in what direction it is moving.
Mitch Hedberg
As the author of the epigraph, I do not know much about how to drive a car, how to change a tire, even in what number to call in case of machine failure, but I can help you understand the words associated with the automotive theme in English. 🙂 What are machines? What parts are they? Let’s look together!
Types of vehicles in English
I do not presume to speak for everyone, but I’m sure lots of machines can cause confusion among girls and women: it seems that the type of machine so much that it is simply impossible to remember everything. I hasten to assure you that, despite what they are all different body types is not too much, and then, depending on the type of each company is finalizing its own unique design. But these types are:
Saloon | Saloon | ![]() |
Hatchback | Hatchback | ![]() |
Estate | Versatile | ![]() |
Coupe | Coupe | ![]() |
Convertible | Convertible | ![]() |
Roadster | Roadster | ![]() |
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) | SUV | ![]() |
Pickup | Pick-up | ![]() |
Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) | Crossover | ![]() |
Limousine | Limousine | ![]() |
People carrier (minivan)
Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) |
Minivan
«OLA» — wagon with increased capacity |
![]() |
Van | Van | ![]() |
Lorry / Truck | Lorry | ![]() |
External elements of a vehicle in English
The external structure of the vehicle about the same, everywhere should be the hood, wheels, bodywork. We distinguish these parts:
- Bonnet / bɒnɪt / — hood
- Wing mirror / wɪŋ mɪrə (r) / — side mirror
- Windscreen / wɪn (d) ˌskriːn / — Windshield
- Rear-view mirror / rɪvjuː mɪrə (r) / — mirror
- Windscreen wiper / wɪn (d) ˌskriːn waɪpə (r) / — «janitor»
- Door — Door
- Boot / buːt / — trunk
- Tyre or tire / taɪə (r) / — Bus
- Wheel / wiːl / — tire
- Headlight / hedˌlaɪt / — Spotlight
- Bumper / bʌmpə (r) / — Bumper
- Licence (or license) plate / laɪs (ə) ns pleɪt / — number plate
- Indicator / ɪndɪˌkeɪtə (r) / — direction indicator
Elements of interior and driving devices in English
Naturally, the interior of each car is unique in its own way, but there are certain elements of the interior space, which can be found in any car:
- Back seat — rear seat
- Armrest — armrest
- Headrest — Headrest
- Seatbelt — belt
- Door lock — Door Lock
- Door handle — door handle
And now look at the elements of interior and control instruments through the eyes of the driver:
- Steering wheel / stɪərɪŋ / — steering wheel
- Horn / hɔː (r) n / — signal horn
- Dashboard — Dashboard
- Air vent — Ventilation
- Hazard light switch / hæzə (r) d / — button alarm
- Glove compartment — the glove compartment
- Gear shift — shift lever
- Accelerator — pedal
- Brake — brake pedal
- Clutch — the clutch pedal
- Handbrake — handbrake
- Cigarette lighter — cigarette lighter
Moreover, if we examine more closely the instruments in the car, we must specify:
- Temperature gauge / ɡeɪdʒ / — engine temperature sensor
- Rev counter / tachometer — Tachometer (shows the number of engine revolutions per minute)
- Speedometer — Speedometer
- Fuel gauge — fuel gauge
- Lights switch — light switch
- Odometer — Odometer (displays the vehicle mileage)
- Air bag — bag
- Heater controls — heating control
- Car stereo — car stereo, radio
List of English words on the theme «Car» with transfer
Then we offer you a more complete list of words that may be of interest to motorists who are learning English:
↓ Download the table «List of English words on the theme» Car «with transfer» (* .pdf, 73 KB)
Types of bodies | |
---|---|
Convertible | Convertible |
Coupe | Coupe |
Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) | Crossover |
Estate | Versatile |
Hatchback | Hatchback |
Limousine | Limousine |
Lorry (BE) / truck (AE) | Lorry |
People carrier (minivan) / Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) | Minivan / «OLA» — wagon with increased capacity |
Pickup | Pick-up |
Roadster | Roadster |
Sedan | Saloon |
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) | SUV |
Van | Van |
External elements | |
Aerial | Antenna |
Back door | Backdoor |
Backup lights | Reversing lights |
Body | Body |
Bonnet (BE) / hood (AE) | Hood |
Boot (BE) / trunk (AE) | Trunk |
Brake lights / stop lights | Stop Light |
Bulbs | Lamps |
Bumper | Bumper |
Caravan (BE) / trailer (AE) | Trailer |
Door handle | Door handle |
Exhaust pipe / tail pipe | Exhaust pipe |
Fog lights | Fog lights |
Front door | The front door |
Front wheel | Front wheel |
Grill | Radiator grille |
Headlights | Headlights |
High beam | Distant Light |
Hubcap | Wheel cover |
Indicator / turn signal / blinker (informal) | Turn indicator |
Lens | Glass of headlight |
Low beam | Dipped |
Moonroof | Moon Roof or skylight |
Number plate (BE) / license (licence) plate (AE) | License plate |
Parking lights | Parking lights |
Rear wheel | Rear wheel |
Rear window | The rear window |
Roof | Roof |
Roof rack | Roof rack |
Side lights | Sidelights |
Side window | Side window |
Sunroof | Sunroof |
Tail lights | Rear lights |
Tailgate | Rear doors (wagons) |
Tyre (BE) / tire (AE) | Sheen |
Windscreen / windshield | Windshield / windshield |
Windscreen wiper | Janitors |
Wing (BE) / fender (AE) | Fender |
Wing mirror / side mirror | Side mirror |
Salon Equipment | |
Accelerator (BE) / gas pedal (AE) | Gas pedal |
Air conditioner | Air Conditioning |
Air vent | Venting |
Armrest | Arm |
Back seat | Backseat |
Brake | Brake |
Cab | Cabin |
Car stereo | Car stereo / radio |
Cigarette lighter | Cigarette lighter |
Clutch | Coupling |
Column shift | Paddle shift lever |
Cruise control | Cruise control (automatic speed maintenance) |
Dashboard | Dashboard |
Door lock | Door lock |
Front seat | Front seat |
Fuel gauge | The fuel gauge |
Gear lever / gear stick (BE) / gear shift (AE) | The shift lever |
Glove compartment | The glove compartment |
Handbrake / emergency brake / parking brake | Hand brake |
Hazard light switch | Alarm button |
Headliner | Headlining the cabin |
Headrest | Headrest |
Heater | The heater / stove |
Heater controls | Heating control |
Horn | The signal horn |
Ignition switch | Egnition lock |
Indicator switch (BE) / turn signal lever (AE) | Lever direction indicators |
Lights switch | Light switch |
Odometer | Odometer |
Passenger seat | Passenger seat |
Pedal | Treadle |
Rear-view mirror | Rearview mirror |
Seatbelt / safety belt | Safety belt |
Speedometer | Speedo |
Steering wheel | Steering wheel |
Sun visor | Sun visor |
Tachometer / rev counter | Tachometer |
Temperature gauge | Motor temperature sensor |
Internals | |
Accumulator / battery | Battery |
Alternator | Generator |
Bearing | Bearing |
Brake disc (BE) / brake rotor (AE) | Brake disk |
Brake fluid | Brake fluid |
Brake pad | Brake shoe |
Camshaft | Camshaft |
Car alarm | Car Alarm |
Carburettor (BE) / carburetor (AE) | Carburetor |
Chassis | Landing gear |
Coolant | Coolant |
Cooling system | Cooling system |
Crankshaft | Crankshaft |
Cylinder | Cylinder |
Cylinder block | Cylinder block |
Dipstick | Dipstick oil |
Electrical system | Electrical |
Engine | Engine / motor |
Fan | Ventilator |
Fan belt | Fan drive belt |
Fasteners | Fasteners (nuts, bolts, and so on. N.) |
Filter | Cleaner |
Flywheel | Flywheel |
Fuel lines | Fuel lines |
Fuse | Safety catch |
Gasket | Gasket |
Gearbox | Transmission |
Hose | Hose |
Hose clamp | Clamp |
Ignition | Ignition |
Injection | Injection |
Oil pump | Oil pump |
Petrol tank / fuel tank | The fuel tank |
Radiator | Radiator |
Spark plug | Spark plug |
Spring | Spring |
Starter | Starter |
Suspension | Suspension |
Transmission | Transmission |
Window roller | Windows |
Other | |
Diesel engine | Diesel engine |
Diesel fuel | Diesel fuel |
Driving licence (BE) / driver’s license (AE) | Driver’s license |
Exit | The exit of the highway |
Fuel | Fuel |
Garage | Garage / shop |
Gear | Transmission |
Highway | Freeway |
Ignition key | Ignition |
Jack | Jack |
Oil | Butter |
Petrol (BE) / gasoline (AE) | Petrol |
Petrol Station (BE) / Gas Station (AE) | Petrol station |
Pump | Pump |
Road | Road |
Screwdriver | Screwdriver |
Spanner | Wrench |
Spare parts | Spare parts |
Spare tyre (BE) / spare tire (AE) | Spare wheel |
Tool | Tools |
Traffic light / traffic signal | Traffic light |
This article consists mainly of nouns that describe the components of the car, but I think you will also be useful to know what the verbs we use when we talk about transport:
- Board a plane / train / bus / tram / ferry / underground — to sit on the plane / train / bus / tram / ferry / metro
- Get on / off a plane / train / bus / tram / ferry / underground — to sit in (get out of) the plane / train / bus / tram / ferry / metro
- Get in / out of a plane / car / bus / taxi — to get into the (exit) the airplane / car / bus / taxi
- Catch the plane / train / bus / tram / ferry / underground — catch (catch) the plane / train / bus / tram / ferry / metro
- Drive a car / bus / taxi — drive / bus / taxi
Well, I hope, is the abundance of new words did not bother you, and you will easily be able to remember all of the phrases. In order to secure this material, offer to take the test on this topic!
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