Means of Transportation: Italian Grammar Lesson 171

Q: What is Italian slang for car?

The term 'automobile' can be shortened to 'auto' for a less formal tone. In formal Italian, the term 'autovettura' may be used, which can also be shortened to 'vettura'. However, the most commonly used informal term for 'car' in Italian is 'macchina'. This term has a dual meaning of 'machine' or 'car' depending on the context in which it is used.

Key Takeaways

Mezzi di trasporto include various forms like la macchina (car) and il treno (train), each with specific grammatical genders.
Use the preposition in for general means of transport, similar to "by" in English, e.g., in macchina (by car).
To specify a vehicle, use con followed by the definite article, like con la macchina (with the car).
The verb andare (to go) can take either in or a depending on the destination type.
Be cautious with a piedi (on foot) versus in piedi (standing), as they have different meanings.

Stefano's Insights

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Parliamo di trasporti in italiano! È sempre utile sapere come muoversi, vero? Dunque, per dire che andiamo in macchina, treno o bici, usiamo 'andare in'. Ma attenzione, se camminiamo, diciamo 'andare a piedi'. Anche i verbi di movimento come 'venire' o 'partire' seguono la stessa logica. E se vogliamo enfatizzare il mezzo, possiamo usare 'con', anche se meno comune. Vi confesso che una volta ho detto 'vado con la macchina' e il mio amico mi ha guardato strano! Ricordate anche di usare 'prendere' per i mezzi pubblici, come 'prendere l'autobus'. Viaggiare in Italia è un'arte e saperlo dire bene è il primo passo!

Let's talk about transport in Italian! Knowing how to get around is always useful, right? So, to say we go by car, train, or bike, we use 'andare in'. But beware, if we walk, we say 'andare a piedi'. Movement verbs like 'venire' or 'partire' follow the same logic. And if we want to emphasize the means, we can use 'con', though it's less common. I confess, once I said 'vado con la macchina' and my friend gave me a strange look! Also, remember to use 'prendere' for public transport, like 'prendere l'autobus'. Traveling in Italy is an art, and knowing how to say it well is the first step!

Quick facts

How do you say "car" in Italian?

"Car" in Italian is "la macchina," "l’automobile," or "l'auto."

What's the Italian word for "bus"?

The Italian word for "bus" is "l’autobus," a masculine noun.

How do you express "go by" in Italian?

Use the verb "andare" followed by the preposition "in" for "go by."

How do you say "I go to work by car" in Italian?

"Io vado a lavorare in macchina."

What preposition is used for "go on foot" in Italian?

The preposition "a" is used for "go on foot," as in "andare a piedi."

How can "venire" be used in the context of transportation?

"Venire" can be paired with "in" or "a" to indicate how someone comes, e.g., "verrò a piedi."

Are there alternatives to "in" for public transportation?

Yes, "con" can be used, especially to emphasize the means of transport, like "con l’autobus."

How do you say "I took the bus" in Italian?

"Ho preso l’autobus per venire qui."

What verb is commonly used with public transport in Italian?

The verb "prendere," meaning "to take," is commonly used with public transport.

How do you ask "Shall we take a taxi?" in Italian?

"Prendiamo un taxi, no?"

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Main Article

Means of Transportation in Italian

First of all, let me show you the most common Italian mezzi di trasporto (means of transportation). Below, I will provide you with these nouns and their corresponding definite articles so you can see their grammatical gender.

la macchina, l’automobile, l’auto (car): these are all synonyms and are all feminine nouns. Macchina is the most general term, while automobile is more formal.
l’autobus (bus)
il treno (train)
la bicicletta, la bici (bike): bici is the informal and shortened version of bicicletta.
l’aereo (airplane)
la motocicletta, la moto, il motorino (motorbike, scooter): motocicletta is the formal term for a motorbike and moto is its shortened form. Motorino refers to a scooter or moped.
la barca (boat)
il taxi (taxi): directly adopted from English.
la metropolitana, la metro (subway, underground): metro is a common shortened form of metropolitana.
il tram (tram): directly adopted from English.
il pullman (coach, long-distance bus)
l’elicottero (helicopter)
il traghetto (ferry)

How to Use Means of Transportation in Italian

Preposition “In” for General Means of Transport

When talking about traveling or moving using most forms of transportation, Italian uses the preposition in without an article. This is similar to the English use of “by”.

Vado a lavoro in macchina.

I go to work by car.

Viaggiamo sempre in treno.

We always travel by train.

In Olanda si muovono tutti in bici.

In Holland, everyone gets around by bike.

Be careful! If you want to say “on foot”, in Italian we say a piedi:

Vado a scuola a piedi.

I go to school on foot.

Watch out the preposition! A piedi means “on foot”, while in piedi means “standing”!

Preposition “Con” + Definite Article

You can also express means of transportation using con (with) followed by the definite article and the name of the vehicle. This construction is used to specify a vehicle rather than another:

Sono andato con la macchina di mio padre.

I went with my father’s car.

Viaggiamo con l’aereo delle 9.

We are traveling with the 9 o’clock plane.

Verbs and Means of Transportation

Of course, when you are discussing a means of transport you use, you use a reduced cluster of verbs that are specifically liked to movements and traveling.

It is important that you know what these verbs are and how they are used, as they might vary from English. Let me start with the most common one: andare (to go).

Andare is the most common Italian movement verb. However, unlike English that uses the preposition “to” only, Italian can use either the preposition in or a. The choice of the preposition depends on the place where the subject is going.

A simple tip I always give my students is the following:

in is used for circumscribed places, small ones that have clear boundaries, like gates, doors, borders… like palestra (gym), piscina (pool) and names of Countries.
a is used for wider places, bigger in size, and without any border, like mare (sea), parco (park), and names of cities.

When you use andare with means of transport, you convey the meaning of using that means of transport to move, as you can see from the examples below:

Io vado in macchina, ci vediamo lì.

I’ll go by car, see you there.

Mi piace andare in bici.

I like riding a bike.

Sono andata in taxi, non mi andava di camminare.

I went by taxi, I didn’t feel like walking.

Check the past tense of Italian movement verbs to learn more about grammatical rules and auxiliary verbs.

Key Terms and Concepts

Mezzi di trasporto

Refers to means of transportation. Common examples include la macchina (car), il treno (train), and la bicicletta (bike).

Preposition "in"

Used in Italian to indicate travel by most forms of transportation, similar to "by" in English, e.g., in macchina (by car).

Preposition "a piedi" versus "in piedi"

A piedi means "on foot," while in piedi means "standing." Both use the preposition to indicate mode and state.

Preposition "con" + Definite Article

Used to specify a particular vehicle, e.g., con la macchina di mio padre (with my father's car).

Verb Andare

Means "to go." It can be used with prepositions in or a, depending on the destination's size and boundaries.

Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions

Words

macchinacar

autobusbus

andareto go

venireto come

arrivareto arrive

prendereto take

piedifeet

mezzomeans

conwith

pubblicopublic

Phrases

la macchinathe car

l’autobusthe bus

andare in macchinago by car

andare a piedigo on foot

venire in biciclettacome by bicycle

arrivare in trenoarrive by train

con la motowith the motorcycle

prendere il tramtake the tram

mezzo di trasportomeans of transportation

l'automobilethe automobile

Sentences

Vado in macchina al lavoro ogni giorno.

I go to work by car every day.

Oggi prendiamo l'autobus per andare in centro.

Today we are taking the bus to go downtown.

Sono venuto in treno perché è più veloce.

I came by train because it's faster.

Andiamo a piedi al parco quando fa bel tempo.

We go on foot to the park when the weather is nice.

Preferisco viaggiare in bicicletta per mantenere la forma.

I prefer to travel by bicycle to stay fit.

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Answers

FAQs

What is Italian slang for car?

The term "automobile" can be shortened to "auto" for a less formal tone. In formal Italian, the term "autovettura" may be used, which can also be shortened to "vettura". However, the most commonly used informal term for "car" in Italian is "macchina". This term has a dual meaning of "machine" or "car" depending on the context in which it is used.

What is the main way of transportation in Italy?

If you plan on visiting popular Italian cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, the optimal mode of transportation is by train. Italy boasts a comprehensive railway system that encompasses both high-speed inter-city trains and regional services that link the smaller towns and cities.