moto

See also: Appendix:Variations of "moto"

Languages (40)

English

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Asturian • Benga • Boloki • Catalan • Chichewa • Chinese • Czech • Duala • Finnish • French • Galician • Ido • Italian • Japanese • Javanese • Latin • Lingala • Makonde • Malay • Māori • Mpoto • Mwani • Mwera • Nigerian Pidgin • Norman • Nyungwe • Portuguese • Sena • Shambala • Shona • Spanish • Swahili • Tahitian • Tiruray • Tok Pisin • Tumbuka • Wutunhua • Yao (Africa) • Zigula

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Page categories

English

Noun

moto (plural motos)

1. One of a series of motocross or BMX races.
   • American Motorcyclist, Jan 1982:

     In fact, after the third of four motos, Hinkle had opened a comfortable lead toward the overall win, and perhaps he really didn't feel any pressure as he cruised home seventh in the final moto to lock up the crown.

2. (In only some varieties of English) A motorcycle or moped.
   • 2019, Kevin Barry, Night Boat to Tangier, New York: Doubleday, →ISBN, pages 192–193:

     He stood in the evening on the street in the haze of rain-flecked light. The backfire of a fucked moto cracked like a gunshot, but he did not flinch from it.

Derived terms

• e-moto
• mini-moto
• moto-cross
• moto-x

Verb

moto (third-person singular simple present motos, present participle motoing, simple past and past participle motoed)

1. (intransitive) To use or ride a moto (noun).
2. (intransitive) Synonym of motor (“to ride a vehicle”, verb).

Anagrams

• moot, tomo-, toom

Asturian

Noun

moto f (plural motos)

1. motorcycle (open-seated motor-powered vehicle with two wheels)

Synonyms

• motocicleta

Benga

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀ntʊ̀ (“person”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-nintu (“person”).

Noun

moto class 1 (plural bato)

1. person

References

• James Love Mackey, Mackey's Grammar of the Benga-Bantu Language, 1892, page 25

Boloki

Noun

moto

1. person

Catalan

Etymology

Clipping of motocicleta.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern) [ˈmu.tu]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic, Valencia, Northwestern) [ˈmo.to]
• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˈmo.tu]

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

Noun

moto f (plural motos)

1. bike (motorcycle)

Derived terms

• minimoto
• moto de neu
• motocarro
• motocròs

Further reading

• “moto”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007

Chichewa

Alternative forms

• modo (obsolete)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò (“fire”), from Proto-Bantu *-jóta (“to burn”), potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- (“burn”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmó.to/

Noun

móto class 3

1. fire

Derived terms

• akulu ndi mdambo mozimira moto (“disputes are referred to the elderly because of their ability to reconcile”)
• anayatsa moto m'banja (“one has caused disagreement in the family”)
• dya moto (“to perform excellently”)
• funthamoto (“to sleep by the fire”)
• kazima moto (“miniskirt”)
• kolozera moto (“to stir up a rumour”)
• koma ndiye uli pa moto (“you have problems”)
• kuloŵa ku moto (“sleeping with a virgin whose hut was burnt”)
• kwereza moto (“to increase speed, to hurry up”)
• moto sazimitsa ndi moto womwe (“do not solve a problem by creating another problem”)
• moto umalowera kumene kwatsala tchire (“problems go to the remaining side”)
• moto wa m'tchire (“wildfire, spreading of news”)
• moto wosazima (“eternal fire, hell, Gehenna”)
• ndi moto (“to be very talkative and troublesome”)
• nkhaniyi iyatsa moto (“this news will cause trouble”)
• pali nthunzi pali moto (“everything has a source/beginning”)
• psa moto (“to be on fire, to be aflame, to be ablaze, to be cooked”)
• sonkha moto (“to start something”)
• thira moto (“to cause trouble, to cause war”)
• utsi sufuka popanda moto (“no smoke without fire”)
• woyambitsa moto (“troublemaker”)
• yamikira wamoto (“one should take the time to get to know people”)
• yatsa moto (“to kindle a fire, to light a fire, to ignite”)

Interjection

moto

1. (colloquial) Used to tell someone to drive faster or speed up.

References

• Steven Paas (2016), Oxford Chichewa-English/English - Chichewa Dictionary‎^[2], Oxford University Press, page 335

Chinese

Etymology

Irregular romanisation of 冇圖 / 冇图 (mou5 tou4, “no image”).

Pronunciation

• Cantonese (Jyutping): mou⁵ tou⁴ / mou¹ tou¹

---

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: mou⁵ tou⁴ / mou¹ tou¹
    • Yale: móuh tòuh / mōu tōu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: mou⁵ tou⁴ / mou¹ tou¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: mou⁵ tou⁴ / mou¹ tou¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mou̯¹³ tʰou̯²¹/, /mou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵/

Interjection

moto

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang) used in situations where no image is provided in a post or thread

Czech

Alternative forms

• motto (more common)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmoto]

Noun

moto n

1. motto

Declension

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Duala

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀ntʊ̀ (“person”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-nintu (“person”).

Noun

moto class 1 (plural bato)

1. person, human being

References

• Paul Helmlinger, Dictionnaire Duala - Français (1972), page 628

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmoto/, [ˈmo̞t̪o̞]
• Rhymes: -oto
• Syllabification^(key): mo‧to
• Hyphenation^(key): mo‧to

Etymology 1

Possibly from muoto.

Noun

moto (colloquial)

1. synonym of face, especially as a place to hit in a fight

   Synonyms: turpa, kuono

Declension

Inflection of moto (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		moto	motot
genitive		moton	motojen
partitive		motoa	motoja
illative		motoon	motoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		moto	motot
accusative	nom.	moto	motot
	gen.	moton
genitive		moton	motojen
partitive		motoa	motoja
inessive		motossa	motoissa
elative		motosta	motoista
illative		motoon	motoihin
adessive		motolla	motoilla
ablative		motolta	motoilta
allative		motolle	motoille
essive		motona	motoina
translative		motoksi	motoiksi
abessive		mototta	motoitta
instructive		—	motoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of moto (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative motoni motoni accusative nom. motoni motoni gen. motoni genitive motoni motojeni partitive motoani motojani inessive motossani motoissani elative motostani motoistani illative motooni motoihini adessive motollani motoillani ablative motoltani motoiltani allative motolleni motoilleni essive motonani motoinani translative motokseni motoikseni abessive motottani motoittani instructive — — comitative — motoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative motosi motosi accusative nom. motosi motosi gen. motosi genitive motosi motojesi partitive motoasi motojasi inessive motossasi motoissasi elative motostasi motoistasi illative motoosi motoihisi adessive motollasi motoillasi ablative motoltasi motoiltasi allative motollesi motoillesi essive motonasi motoinasi translative motoksesi motoiksesi abessive motottasi motoittasi instructive — — comitative — motoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative motomme motomme accusative nom. motomme motomme gen. motomme genitive motomme motojemme partitive motoamme motojamme inessive motossamme motoissamme elative motostamme motoistamme illative motoomme motoihimme adessive motollamme motoillamme ablative motoltamme motoiltamme allative motollemme motoillemme essive motonamme motoinamme translative motoksemme motoiksemme abessive motottamme motoittamme instructive — — comitative — motoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative motonne motonne accusative nom. motonne motonne gen. motonne genitive motonne motojenne partitive motoanne motojanne inessive motossanne motoissanne elative motostanne motoistanne illative motoonne motoihinne adessive motollanne motoillanne ablative motoltanne motoiltanne allative motollenne motoillenne essive motonanne motoinanne translative motoksenne motoiksenne abessive motottanne motoittanne instructive — — comitative — motoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative motonsa motonsa accusative nom. motonsa motonsa gen. motonsa genitive motonsa motojensa partitive motoaan motoansa motojaan motojansa inessive motossaan motossansa motoissaan motoissansa elative motostaan motostansa motoistaan motoistansa illative motoonsa motoihinsa adessive motollaan motollansa motoillaan motoillansa ablative motoltaan motoltansa motoiltaan motoiltansa allative motolleen motollensa motoilleen motoillensa essive motonaan motonansa motoinaan motoinansa translative motokseen motoksensa motoikseen motoiksensa abessive motottaan motottansa motoittaan motoittansa instructive — — comitative — motoineen motoinensa

Further reading

• “moto”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[3] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Etymology 2

Syllabic abbreviation of monitoimikone

Noun

moto (informal)

1. (forestry) synonym of harvesteri (“harvester”)

Declension

Inflection of moto (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		moto	motot
genitive		moton	motojen
partitive		motoa	motoja
illative		motoon	motoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		moto	motot
accusative	nom.	moto	motot
	gen.	moton
genitive		moton	motojen
partitive		motoa	motoja
inessive		motossa	motoissa
elative		motosta	motoista
illative		motoon	motoihin
adessive		motolla	motoilla
ablative		motolta	motoilta
allative		motolle	motoille
essive		motona	motoina
translative		motoksi	motoiksi
abessive		mototta	motoitta
instructive		—	motoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of moto (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative motoni motoni accusative nom. motoni motoni gen. motoni genitive motoni motojeni partitive motoani motojani inessive motossani motoissani elative motostani motoistani illative motooni motoihini adessive motollani motoillani ablative motoltani motoiltani allative motolleni motoilleni essive motonani motoinani translative motokseni motoikseni abessive motottani motoittani instructive — — comitative — motoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative motosi motosi accusative nom. motosi motosi gen. motosi genitive motosi motojesi partitive motoasi motojasi inessive motossasi motoissasi elative motostasi motoistasi illative motoosi motoihisi adessive motollasi motoillasi ablative motoltasi motoiltasi allative motollesi motoillesi essive motonasi motoinasi translative motoksesi motoiksesi abessive motottasi motoittasi instructive — — comitative — motoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative motomme motomme accusative nom. motomme motomme gen. motomme genitive motomme motojemme partitive motoamme motojamme inessive motossamme motoissamme elative motostamme motoistamme illative motoomme motoihimme adessive motollamme motoillamme ablative motoltamme motoiltamme allative motollemme motoillemme essive motonamme motoinamme translative motoksemme motoiksemme abessive motottamme motoittamme instructive — — comitative — motoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative motonne motonne accusative nom. motonne motonne gen. motonne genitive motonne motojenne partitive motoanne motojanne inessive motossanne motoissanne elative motostanne motoistanne illative motoonne motoihinne adessive motollanne motoillanne ablative motoltanne motoiltanne allative motollenne motoillenne essive motonanne motoinanne translative motoksenne motoiksenne abessive motottanne motoittanne instructive — — comitative — motoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative motonsa motonsa accusative nom. motonsa motonsa gen. motonsa genitive motonsa motojensa partitive motoaan motoansa motojaan motojansa inessive motossaan motossansa motoissaan motoissansa elative motostaan motostansa motoistaan motoistansa illative motoonsa motoihinsa adessive motollaan motollansa motoillaan motoillansa ablative motoltaan motoltansa motoiltaan motoiltansa allative motolleen motollensa motoilleen motoillensa essive motonaan motonansa motoinaan motoinansa translative motokseen motoksensa motoikseen motoiksensa abessive motottaan motottansa motoittaan motoittansa instructive — — comitative — motoineen motoinensa

French

Etymology

Shortened form of motocyclette

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɔ.to/, /mo.to/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (France (Paris)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Somain)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -o

Noun

moto f (plural motos)

1. bike, motorbike (motorcycle)

Further reading

• “moto”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Galician

Etymology

Clipping of motocicleta.

Noun

moto f (plural motos)

1. bike (motorcycle)

Ido

Noun

moto (plural moti)

1. motto, saying, maxim

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.to/
• Rhymes: -ɔto
• Hyphenation: mò‧to

Etymology 1

Shortened form of motocicletta.

Noun

moto f (invariable)

1. clipping of motocicletta; motorcycle

Etymology 2

From Latin mōtus.

Noun

moto m (plural moti)

1. movement
2. motion
3. exercise
4. uprising, revolt

Derived terms

• con moto
• moto browniano

Anagrams

• -tomo, tomo, tomo-

Japanese

Romanization

moto

1. Rōmaji transcription of もと

Javanese

Noun

moto

1. nonstandard spelling of mata

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈmoː.toː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈmɔː.to]

Participle

mōtō

1. dative/ablative masculine/neuter singular of mōtus

Verb

mōtō (present infinitive mōtāre, perfect active mōtāvī, supine mōtātum); first conjugation

1. to set in motion
2. to keep moving

Conjugation

   Conjugation of mōtō (first conjugation)

indicative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	mōtō		mōtās		mōtat		mōtāmus		mōtātis		mōtant
	imperfect	mōtābam		mōtābās		mōtābat		mōtābāmus		mōtābātis		mōtābant
	future	mōtābō		mōtābis		mōtābit		mōtābimus		mōtābitis		mōtābunt
	perfect	mōtāvī		mōtāvistī		mōtāvit		mōtāvimus		mōtāvistis		mōtāvērunt, mōtāvēre
	pluperfect	mōtāveram		mōtāverās		mōtāverat		mōtāverāmus		mōtāverātis		mōtāverant
	future perfect	mōtāverō		mōtāveris		mōtāverit		mōtāverimus		mōtāveritis		mōtāverint
passive	present	mōtor		mōtāris, mōtāre		mōtātur		mōtāmur		mōtāminī		mōtantur
	imperfect	mōtābar		mōtābāris, mōtābāre		mōtābātur		mōtābāmur		mōtābāminī		mōtābantur
	future	mōtābor		mōtāberis, mōtābere		mōtābitur		mōtābimur		mōtābiminī		mōtābuntur
	perfect	mōtātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	mōtātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	mōtātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	mōtem		mōtēs		mōtet		mōtēmus		mōtētis		mōtent
	imperfect	mōtārem		mōtārēs		mōtāret		mōtārēmus		mōtārētis		mōtārent
	perfect	mōtāverim		mōtāverīs		mōtāverit		mōtāverīmus		mōtāverītis		mōtāverint
	pluperfect	mōtāvissem		mōtāvissēs		mōtāvisset		mōtāvissēmus		mōtāvissētis		mōtāvissent
passive	present	mōter		mōtēris, mōtēre		mōtētur		mōtēmur		mōtēminī		mōtentur
	imperfect	mōtārer		mōtārēris, mōtārēre		mōtārētur		mōtārēmur		mōtārēminī		mōtārentur
	perfect	mōtātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	mōtātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	—		mōtā		—		—		mōtāte		—
	future	—		mōtātō		mōtātō		—		mōtātōte		mōtantō
passive	present	—		mōtāre		—		—		mōtāminī		—
	future	—		mōtātor		mōtātor		—		—		mōtantor
non-finite forms		infinitive						participle
		active			passive			active			passive
present		mōtāre			mōtārī			mōtāns			—
future		mōtātūrum esse			mōtātum īrī			mōtātūrus			mōtandus
perfect		mōtāvisse			mōtātum esse			—			mōtātus
future perfect		—			mōtātum fore			—			—
perfect potential		mōtātūrum fuisse			—			—			—
verbal nouns		gerund								supine
		genitive		dative		accusative		ablative		accusative		ablative
		mōtandī		mōtandō		mōtandum		mōtandō		mōtātum		mōtātū

References

• “moto”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “moto”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “moto”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.

Lingala

Etymology 1

See Lingala motu.

Noun

moto class 1 (plural bato class 2)

1. person, man, human

Derived terms

• bomoto
• emoto

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Swahili moto.

Noun

moto class 3 (plural mioto class 4)

1. fire

Etymology 3

See Lingala motó.

Noun

moto

1. head

References

• Thomas A. Akowuah (1996), Lingala - English/English - Lingala‎^[4], Hippocrene Books, page 17
• Lumana Pashi, Alan Turnbull (1994), Lingala - English Dictionary‎^[5], Dunwoody Press, page 172

Makonde

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-.

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Malay

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmoto/ [ˈmo.t̪o]
• Hyphenation: mo‧to

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English motto, from Italian motto (“a word, a saying”), from Latin muttum (“a mutter, a grunt”), late 16th c..

Noun

moto (Jawi spelling موتو, plural moto-moto or moto²)

1. motto, slogan

   Synonyms: cogan, cogan kata, kata-kata keramat, kata-kata semboyan, slogan

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English motor, from Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).

Noun

moto (plural moto-moto or moto²)

1. ellipsis of motosikal
2. pronunciation spelling of motor

Further reading

• "moto" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017
  (also see "moto" at PRPM first version)

Māori

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *moto (compare with Hawaiian moko, Tahitian moto, Tongan moto and momoto)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmoto/ [ˈmɔtɔ]

Verb

moto (passive motoa or motokia)

1. to strike with the fist, to punch, to box

   Synonyms: meke, tuki

Noun

moto

1. hit or blow with the fist, punch

   Synonym: meke

Derived terms

• momoto
• motomoto

Further reading

• John C. Moorfield (2011), “moto”, in Te Aka: Māori–English, English–Māori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, →ISBN

Mpoto

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-.

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Mwani

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Mwera

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-.

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Nigerian Pidgin

Etymology

Ultimately from English motor; see Yoruba mọ́tò, Igbo moto, Hausa mota.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mò.to/

Noun

moto

1. car

   I see moto dem.

   I saw cars.

Norman

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

moto m (plural motos)

1. (Guernsey, Jersey) car

Synonyms

• vaituthe

Nyungwe

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Clipping of motocicleta.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tɔ/, /ˈmɔ.tu/

Noun

moto f (plural motos)

1. motorcycle

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin mōtus.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

Noun

moto m (plural motos)

1. movement, motion
2. agitation, circulation, rotation
3. shake

Etymology 3

Alteration of mote; compare also Italian motto.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

Noun

moto m (plural motos)

1. (art) artist's signature
2. (heraldry) motto

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Ngungwel moto.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.tu/

Noun

moto m (plural motos)

1. (Mozambique) fire; light

Further reading

• “moto”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026

Sena

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-.

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Shambala

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò (“fire - zone G”), from *-jóta (“to warm oneself”), potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- (“burn”).

Noun

moto class 3 (plural mioto)

1. fire

References

• August Seidel (1895), Handbuch der Shambala-sprache in Usambara, Deutsch-Ostafrika. Mit Texten, einem Shambala-Deutschen und einem Deutsch-Shambala-Wörterbuch‎^[6], Dresden-Leipzig, pages 93, 116

Shona

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò (“fire”), from *-jóta (“to warm oneself”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- (“burn (of a fire)”)

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

   Synonym: mwoto

References

• M. Hannan, S.J. (1984), Standard Shona Dictionary: Revised Edition with Addendum‎^[7], Harare College Press, pages 362, 818

Spanish

Alternative forms

• amoto (vehicle sense, nonstandard)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmoto/ [ˈmo.t̪o]
• Rhymes: -oto
• Syllabification: mo‧to

Etymology 1

Clipping of motocicleta.

Noun

moto f (plural motos)

1. clipping of motocicleta; motorcycle

Derived terms

• como una moto
• moto de agua
• moto de nieve
• robamotos
• vendemotos
• vender la moto

Etymology 2

From mojón.

Noun

moto m (plural motos)

1. milestone

   Synonym: hito

Further reading

• “moto”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Swahili

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

moto class III (plural mioto class IV)

1. fire, flame
2. energy, charge
3. heat, temperature, warmth
4. exertion, glowing
5. zeal
6. bruise, welts, marks

Derived terms

• motoni (“hell”)

Tahitian

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *moto (compare with Hawaiian moko, Māori moto)

Verb

moto

1. to strike with the fist, to punch, to box

Noun

moto

1. boxing
   1. traditional Tahitian combat boxing

Further reading

• Lemaître, Yves (1995), Lexique du tahitien contemporain [Current Tahitian lexicon]‎^[8] (in French), Paris: Éditions de l'Orstom, →ISBN
• “moto” in Dictionnaire en ligne Tahitien/Français (Online Tahitian–French Dictionary), by the Tahitian Academy.

Tiruray

Noun

moto

1. (anatomy) eye

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English motor.

Noun

moto

1. motor

Tumbuka

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot-.

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Derived terms

• kamoto (“small fire”)

References

• William Y. Turner (1996), Tumbuka/Tonga-English and English - Tumbuka/Tonga Dictionary‎^[9], Central Africana Limited, pages 98, 205

Wutunhua

Etymology

Borrowed from Mandarin 摩托 (mótuō), from English motor.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [motʰo]

Noun

moto

1. motorcycle
   • 2014, Wutun villagers, “Mani session 1”, in Interactive Inner Asia Project‎^[10]:

     men she moto-ge yek-li-zhe.

     There is a motorcycle outside the door.

     (Transcriptions have been standardized per Wiktionary:Wutunhua entry guidelines.)

Yao (Africa)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò, from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- (“burn”).

Noun

moto class 3 (plural moto or mioto)

1. fire
2. heat
3. warmth

References

• Chauncy Maples, M.A., F.R.G.S. (1888), Yao-English Vocabulary‎^[11], Universities' Mission Press, page 68
• Rev. Alexander Hetherwick, M.A., F.R.G.S. (1889), Introductory Handbook of the Yao Language‎^[12], Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page 199
• Meredith Sanderson, M.R.C.S., F.R.G.S., F.R.A.I. (1922), A Yao Grammar‎^[13], Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page 177

Zigula

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jótò (“fire - zone G”), from Proto-Bantu *-jóta, potentially from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- (“burn”).

Noun

moto class 3

1. fire

Derived terms

• mta moto (“fireman”)
• mnima wa moto (“volcano”)

Etymology 2

Noun

moto

1. motorcycle

References

• Chizigula of Somalia Dictionary‎^[14], SIL International, 2020