कार (kaar)

noun A single-sense everyday loanword: 'car'.
Sense 1 : car, automobile
noun, feminine
Synonyms: गाड़ी (gaadii, also covers other vehicles), मोटर (motar, somewhat dated)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: कार (kaar) is a straightforward English loanword and is used just as in English, but in daily conversation across Delhi-NCR you will hear गाड़ी (gaadii) at least as often, since it works as a catch-all for 'vehicle' the way 'ride' sometimes does casually in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes assume गाड़ी (gaadii) and कार (kaar) are perfectly interchangeable, but गाड़ी (gaadii) is the broader everyday word covering cars, trains, and other vehicles, while कार (kaar) refers specifically to a car -- native speakers often default to गाड़ी (gaadii) in casual speech even when they mean a car.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे पास एक छोटी सी कार है। I have a small car.
(mere paas ek chhotii sii kaar hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हर रोज़ कार से ऑफिस जाता है। He goes to the office by car every day.
(vah har roz kaar se ophis jaataa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमने पिछले साल एक नई कार खरीदी थी। We had bought a new car last year.
(hamne pichhle saal ek naii kaar khariidii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कार को गैराज में खड़ा कर दो। Park the car in the garage.
(kaar ko gairaaj men khadaa kar do।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरे पास पैसे होते, तो मैं एक महंगी कार खरीदता। If I had the money, I would buy an expensive car.
(agar mere paas paise hote, to main ek mahangii kaar khariidtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कार सर्विस सेंटर में मरम्मत की जा रही है। The car is being repaired at the service center.
(kaar sarvis sentar men marammat kii jaa rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद वह कल तक अपनी कार बेच दे। He might sell his car by tomorrow.
(shaayad vah kal tak apnii kaar bech de।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
कार सड़क किनारे खड़ी है। The car is parked by the roadside.
(kaar sadak kinaare khadii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हम अगले महीने एक इलेक्ट्रिक कार लेंगे। We will get an electric car next month.
(ham agle mahiine ek ilektrik kaar lenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश मेरे पास भी एक कार होती। I wish I too had a car.
(kaash mere paas bhii ek kaar hotii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कंपनी की सभी कारें दिल्ली में बनाई जाती हैं। All of the company's cars are manufactured in Delhi.
(kampnii kii sabhii kaaren dillii men banaaii jaatii hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): कार (kaar)
(sg.f.oblique): कार (kaar)
(pl.f.direct): कारें (kaaren)
(pl.f.oblique): कारों (kaaron)