noun
motor vehicle, automobile
B1
'Kraftfahrzeug' means 'motor vehicle' or 'automobile', a formal compound noun used in legal and technical contexts. Neuter: das Kraftfahrzeug. Plural Kraftfahrzeuge. Genitive singular des Kraftfahrzeugs (adds -s). Regular declension otherwise. In everyday speech native speakers prefer 'Auto'. No special prepositions.
Examples
Ein Kraftfahrzeug muss regelmäßig zum TÜV.
A motor vehicle must regularly go for its TÜV inspection.
Er hat ein neues Kraftfahrzeug gekauft, weil sein altes kaputt war.
He bought a new automobile because his old one was broken.
Das Kraftfahrzeug parkte in der Einfahrt.
The motor vehicle was parked in the driveway.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a classic car with the label 'Kraftfahrzeug' on its license plate
kraft-fahr-zeug → 'kraft' (power) + 'fahr' (drive) + 'zeug' (thing) → a powered driving thing
das Kraftfahrzeug — think 'das' tag on the dashboard
Notes
A formal compound noun for motor vehicle; commonly used in legal and official contexts (e.g., vehicle registration).