What it means
خودرو (khodro) is the formal, written Persian word for a motor vehicle or automobile. It is a native Persian compound built from خود (khod, meaning “self”) and رو (ro, a root meaning “going” or “moving”), giving the literal sense of “self-moving.” It was deliberately coined to replace the loanword اتومبیل (otomobil). In everyday speech Iranians often say ماشین (mashin) instead, but in news reports, official documents, and formal contexts خودرو is standard. A close synonym in casual register is ماشین; a more technical term is اتومبیل.
How to use it
- خودروی من خراب شده. (Khodro-ye man kharab shode.) “My car has broken down.”
- قیمت خودروها دوباره بالا رفت. (Qeymat-e khodrohâ dobâre bâlâ raft.) “Car prices went up again.”
- صنعت خودرو در ایران خیلی بزرگه. (San’at-e khodro dar Irân kheyli bozorge.) “The automobile industry in Iran is very large.”
- این خودرو بنزین زیادی مصرف میکنه. (In khodro benzin-e ziâdi masraf mi-kone.) “This vehicle uses a lot of fuel.”
Cultural note
Iran has its own domestic car manufacturers, most notably Iran Khodro (ایران خودرو) and SAIPA, which produce millions of vehicles per year. The word خودرو is embedded in the name of Iran’s largest carmaker, making it one of the most recognized compound words in the country. Because of international sanctions, domestically produced cars have historically dominated the market, and discussions about خودرو prices are a constant topic in everyday Iranian life.