how do you say scooter in spanish?
thanks 
patineta or mono-patinea if you prefer. Both are masculine.
Um, Paul… patines are skates. Patinetas är small skates.
If the OP means ‘small, motordriven bike or moped, vespa’ then the answer is ‘moto’, which is feminine, since it’s a short form of moto-cicleta.
Since it is an alien word----would you believe it’s just called a scooter?
It IS!
Not in Spain, it ain’t.
Scooter might be used to refer to something that is or looks like a vespa, but the generic name, be it a Harley or a 50cc, is ‘moto’.
What kind of scooter? A skateboard like thing with a handle? You know, with no motor? My Mexican wife calls them “patines” I think, or maybe “patine de diablo.” Of course, this could be for a skateboard, too.
The motorized scooters, as Ezstrete said, are just called “scooters.” Even says that on the honda.com.mx site.
'Course, I’m talking about Mexico. One thing about Spanish is it’s much, much more diverse between countries than is even English.
Scooter (escúter), vespa, or moto if it’s the motorized thing…
If it doesn’t have motor, or is one of those small motorized ones, it can also be called teresina, at least in Puerto Rico. Patinete/patineta may work in other places, though…
Wait a sec…doesn’t it require “-ita,” not “-eta” to make it mean “little?” Also, it was stated that this is a masculine word. If a suffix was added to make it mean “little,” it would have to reflect the gender of the word.
Originally posted by Paul in Saudi
Actually, patineta and moto-patineta are femenine.
Also, “eta” and “eto” are not suffixes that define size.
And here in PR, “patineta” can be a skateboard. Back in the 70s there was an attempt to refer to “moped” scooters as “mopeta” but I think that mercifully died off. I’ve seen the thing that looks like a skateboard with single wheels and a handlebar referred to as a “monopatín” in Argentine publications; “escúter” has also been used here.
Mmm, I’m a little late but here again in a spanish meanings discussion… 'cause I see no factual question well-answered yet.
Here (in Mexico, with this I mean that in other spanish-speaker countries have another words, it’s not my problem) we used to call a scooter, “Patín del Diablo” (Devil’s Skate or Skate of The Devil, I put “The” because it means a skate property of the Devil itself, not only a devil).
When modern-looking scooters came up, we’re still calling them “Patines del Diablo”. Skateboard is “Patineta”, and Skates are simple “Patines”.
Ok, then, for us, this is a Scooter or “Patin del Diablo”*, electric, motorized or not: this.
These are Skateboards or “Patinetas”.
And these are “Patines”, referred to them as “patines de hielo” (ice skates) or “patines (de ruedas)” (roller skates), as well.
All references to “motos” or “motocicletas” are for “motorcycles”, Vespas or higher models. Usually not for kids.
*The name “Patin del Diablo” is actually being substituted only by “mono-patín” or just “patín”, but when they have to be distinguished from (any type) skates, then people adds “of the Devil”…
Just curious, The Gaspode, why do you always post in spanish-related threads without actually knowing the correct meanings? (Not flaming you, repeat, I’m just curious).