autootje

Autootje is a Dutch noun meaning a small car. It is formed from auto, the common short form for automobile, with the diminutive suffix -tje, which conveys smallness or affection. The word can refer to real vehicles that are compact or economical as well as to toy cars or scale models.

In everyday use, autootje describes both full-sized real cars that are notably small or economical and smaller vehicles such as city cars or microcars. It also commonly denote toy or model cars, used by children or collectors. The term carries a casual, affectionate nuance and is more informal than more technical terms for vehicles.

Linguistically, autootje illustrates Dutch diminutive morphology and is part of a broader pattern in Dutch where -tje is added to a base word to create a lighter or more endearing meaning. The plural form is autootjes. Spelling and usage are straightforward for native speakers, and the word often appears in spoken language, media, and everyday descriptions of cars.

See also: microcar, city car, toy car. Autootje is a general, non-technical term and does not designate a formal class of vehicles; its exact sense depends on context, ranging from a tiny real car to a toy model.