Auto simply means "moving," and the word itself comes from the French automobile, which, like the English word "automobile," came from the Greek αὐτός autós ("self") and the French word mobile, which came from the Latin mobilis ("movable").
Consequently, the automobile is a German transliteration of a French loanword rather than a German loanword in English, similar to kindergarten, Zeitgeist, or Schadenfreude.
In the Scandinavian languages, automobile is shortened to bil; the plural in Danish and Norwegian is biler, and the plural in Swedish is bilar. In the Dutch language, automobile is also shortened to auto, or auto's in the plural.
The word "car" in English originates from the Anglo-French word carre, which means "wheeled vehicle." The term "motor car" is also used, particularly in British English, where, in contrast to North American English, "car" is preferred over "automobile."
Volk noun, neuter — people
Wagen noun, masculine — car, wagon, vehicle
Consequently, the automobile is a German transliteration of a French loanword rather than a German loanword in English, similar to kindergarten, Zeitgeist, or Schadenfreude.
In the Scandinavian languages, automobile is shortened to bil; the plural in Danish and Norwegian is biler, and the plural in Swedish is bilar. In the Dutch language, automobile is also shortened to auto, or auto's in the plural.
The word "car" in English originates from the Anglo-French word carre, which means "wheeled vehicle." The term "motor car" is also used, particularly in British English, where, in contrast to North American English, "car" is preferred over "automobile."
What does "Volkswagen" mean in German?
Volk noun, neuter — people
Wagen noun, masculine — car, wagon, vehicle
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