Would the average american know the meaning of "moto"?

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os2mac@reddit

from my perspective "moto" could mean any motor sport, nascar, F-1, motorcross, rally etc...

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bookshelfie@reddit

When I hear “moto” I think of a Motorola phone

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Depends on the context of the writing or on how it’s pronounced in speech. Moto (mua-toe) is kind of like a personal phrase or slogan versus Moto MO TO almost always refers to a motorcycle usually a dirtbike

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alikins@reddit

I feel most folks would understand what you mean. But it isn't a common usage at all.

Folks with motorcycle experience would be more likely to understand. Familiarity with MotoGP, supermoto, and motocross.

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K9WorkingDog@reddit

Motivated

-not a Marine

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EloquentRacer92@reddit

I would assume you’re talking about Moto Pizza, but that’s a local place.

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Strict-Farmer904@reddit

Unless you gave me some clear context clues where you’re like pointing to a motorcycle or saying “I love to ride my moto,” while you’re standing next to it, I don’t think I’d ever figure out you were referring to a motorcycle

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PvtDipwad@reddit

I hear someone say moto I assume some sort of motorcycle thing

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waltzthrees@reddit

From context in a sentence I could figure it out, but no native speaker would call their motorcycle a moto. A nickname for a motorcycle would be bike or ride or hog (for a Harley), not moto.

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feochampas@reddit

I think an English speaker, especially an American would tend to associate 'moto' with a Motorola phone.

I still have that stupid commercial in my head.

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andmewithoutmytowel@reddit

Funny enough, Motorola started as a car radio company. Motorola is supposed to be a portmanteau of "motor" for car and "ola" for relating to sound as in "victrola" aka gramophone.

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Ok-Aside2816@reddit

thats exactly what i thought

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totally_not_a_spybot@reddit

They're good phones

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NinjaKitten77CJ@reddit

We've had Motorola phones for yrs, can confirm. We also have motorcycles, and that just referred to as "the bike".

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Foxy_locksy1704@reddit

Me too “Hello Moto” I can still hear it

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WildMartin429@reddit

I came here to say this as well

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Proper_Possible6293@reddit

Native (American) speaker and have ridden motorcycles for a few decades, I use the "moto" all the time and so do a lot of my rider friends.

So a native speaker would say it, though I would assume its more common among people who ride even though my non-riding friends never seem confused when I say "I'm going on a moto camping trip"

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FeedingCoxeysArmy@reddit

Do you suppose it’s a section of the states that call it a moto? I never heard that in the Southeast or the Southwest and I’ve been around bikers all my life.

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Antisirch@reddit

I dunno why you got downvoted for this, but I agree with you. I don’t ride, but my dad does; he raced dirt bikes for fun on the weekends, and we also watched a lot of Moto GP together when I was still at home. “Moto” was used around our house fairly frequently; however, most people who don’t ride probably wouldn’t say “moto” to refer to motorcycles.

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Proper_Possible6293@reddit

Seems a lot of people can’t grasp the idea that their personal experience isn’t the totality of human behavior.

“No one says that”

“Hi, here’s a bunch of us that say that”

“You’re wrong! It’s no one does that despite the direct evidence to the contrary!”

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Filberrt@reddit

Or Kaw (pronounced Cow).

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Filberrt@reddit

Or a Kaw (pronounced cow)

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The_Troyminator@reddit

It took me a couple of reads to realize they didn’t say “mofo.”

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shelwood46@reddit

Or "cycle" but said in a tough way lol

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Ms-Metal@reddit

If somebody said cycle, I would think they were talking about a bicycle. Obviously Moto is motorcycle. But when people talk about cycling, they're talking about bicycling. Maybe it's just my state because biking is common in my state.

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Ekimyst@reddit

"Obviously Moto is motorcycle” not around here. At All

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NinjaKitten77CJ@reddit

Same here. Our motorcycle is just "the bike". In our household and every single household I know. I've never once heard it referred to as "moto". It's bike or motorcycle, at least here.

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TheMuffler42069@reddit

It’s Motorola if anything

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473713@reddit

My phone says "hello moto" whenever I restart it. That's the only moto I know about

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wieldymouse@reddit

Exactly

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geriseinsmelled@reddit

Absolutely.

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Genepoolperfect@reddit

This. 100% motorola

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AtheneSchmidt@reddit

Yeah, if I heard "moto" my response would be "what?" Because clearly I missed part of a word, at minimum. If it was repeated, by a non-native speaker I would probably let them know that moto isn't a word, in American English, at least.

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JBrewd@reddit

Beside the point, but this reminded me so much of this one biker bar my college workplace (little hippy ass rafting places across the street) would often kinda take over before all the blue collar biker guys got there (not that we weren't all blue collar..just not that tough). Some of them would refer to their bikes as their capital C Cycle in the same way Carl Sagan purposely said 'Billion' instead of billion with a b. Like leaning so hard into really pronouncing the capital I felt like George Carlin was about to show up and make jokes about it.

Not that I was ever stupid enough to say that out loud in a biker bar lol. Did watch my supervisor get a pool cue cracked over his head for being a dickhead about playing the same 3 near hour long Pink Floyd tracks on the jukebox every day though. Pretty sure he put too much emphasis on the fact it was his Jukebox

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Outrageous_Chart_35@reddit

https://gbwiki.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Cy-Kill

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TrailGordo@reddit

Or chopper, I think. (I’m not a motorcycle guy, I’ve just seen Pulp Fiction)

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broberds@reddit

Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead.

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QuinceDaPence@reddit

Chopper is specifically one that's been "chopped". Having the frame shape changed for looks, typically a heavy rake and larger front wheel.

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CalebCaster2@reddit

"I'm on my cycle, bruthur" 😂 maybe thats why Harley guys always seem so irritable

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Plow_King@reddit

"she was really on her cycle HARD!"

like that?

/s

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AAA515@reddit

Or bike, crotch rocket, chopper, bagger...

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Zealousideal_Draw_94@reddit

Motorcycle = Bike

Bicycles = cycling

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ian2121@reddit

As a mountain biker people almost exclusively call dirt bikers “motos”. On the west coast so not sure if it is a regional thing

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BrassFR@reddit

Yup, definitely "bike" 95% of the time - and the occasional "hog", though I haven't heard hog regularly in years.

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RogueCoon@reddit

Bike is what everyone says that I ride with

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Skank-McGank@reddit

Maybe moped aswell, depending on the power of the vehicle.

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bjanas@reddit

I guarantee you that a lot of motorcycle racers and enthusiasts will call them "motos."

Hell, if you watch like any racing, MotoGP is the premier racing.

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Lanoir97@reddit

On its own, I wouldn’t assume Moto means motorcycle. If you say MotoGP or motocross, most people would associate it with motorcycles.

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soulmatesmate@reddit

TIL. I always called it motoRcross. There really is no R? Well... not my scene.

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waltzthrees@reddit

I’m familiar with it in a racing context, but regular riders wouldn’t call it their moto.

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bjanas@reddit

Sure, but a fair number would. But that's not the question, it's if people would recognize the meaning of the word.

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biggreasyrhinos@reddit

Most would not.

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Spoocula@reddit

I call my motorcycle my moto. Admittedly it's not very common; I don't know anyone else who says it. But I'm more of an avid bicyclist who also has a motorcycle. So I'll say "I'll be heading over on my moto in 10 minutes", in order to distinguish that from my bike, which is a bicycle.

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accidental_Ocelot@reddit

yeah but moto as in motorcycle or to move, the long o sound mōtō where as the word motto is pronounced mättō.

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RampantDeacon@reddit

A “moto” is not an American alternate or abbreviation for “motorcycle”. Americans will generally NOT equate the letters.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Completely disagree. I can't imagine an American not knowing that Moto is short for motorcycle. Any woman would know it from fashion, cuz there are Moto jackets and they would probably know it anyway even if it wasn't for fashion and the guys will know it as short for motorcycles. I truly can't imagine an American not knowing this.

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RampantDeacon@reddit

I’m an American and have been for 65 years. I have NEVER heard or seen anywhere any American refer to a motorcycle using “moto” for short. “Moto” is not short for “motorcycle” in America, never has been.

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KeyDx7@reddit

Not even motocross? How about BMX (bicycle motocross)?

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RampantDeacon@reddit

Motocross is a portmanteau of the French word “motocyclette” and “crosscountry” - like a cross country race. Saying “moto” from motocross would be widely accepted to mean motorcycle would be like talking frenemy, and saying “fr” should automatically be accepted as “friend”.

I didn’t say no one says moto and means motorcycle, just that it is not generally accepted as valid. If you said “ I’m going to go buy a moto” to 10,000 Americans, at least 9,999 of them would go “a what”?

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gylliana@reddit

As an American woman, what’s a moto jacket?

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Suspicious_Duck2458@reddit

Moto isn't short for motorcycle in the US.

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snmnky9490@reddit

As an American, I have never once in my life heard anyone use "moto" as an abbreviation for motorcycle

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On_my_last_spoon@reddit

I literally studied fashion and don’t know what a “moto jacket” is

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ArcadiaNoakes@reddit

Moto is Motorola.

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Decsolst@reddit

Just no.

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axbyy_@reddit

I’m an American woman who wouldn’t know. 👋🏼

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big_sugi@reddit

American man. Same. I know of motocross, but aren’t those dirt bikes?

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russki516@reddit

Without context, for example "I just got a new Moto!", practically no American is going to think motorcycle.

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MilkstacheMustache@reddit

Apparently we're both incorrect because this was my first thought, too. The only way I would ever know that moto means motorcycle is because I know what a moto jacket is.

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theroha@reddit

Are you American? Because I grew up in the Midwest, and this post is literally the first time I've heard of a motorcycle being referred to as a moto. I'm 34. I honestly thought the post was asking if Americans recognized the word motto because the only association I have with moto is Motorola.

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lazynessforever@reddit

I’m an American and I’ve never heard anyone use it

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SpiritfireSparks@reddit

Most people call them biker jackets and bikes, or hogs for Harleys. Moto is a much more European thing, most Americans are more likely to think of the cellphone brand Motorola

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KeyDx7@reddit

ITT: a lot of Americans who apparently slept through the early 2000s and the X-games/Gravity Games craze with all the freestyle motocross competitions that they hosted. Heck, motocross races still happen all over the US from youth to professional.

Or BMX, which is short for “Bicycle Motocross”.

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Vegetable_Owl995@reddit

Moto Moto the hippo from Madagascar

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manoleque@reddit (OP)

lol

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Burnblast277@reddit

I honesty thought you'd just misspelled "motto" and was wondering why an American wouldn't know the word motto. Using "moto" to mean "motorcycle" in speaking or print would be completely lost on me. The only other word I know for motorcycles in general is "bike." There are others, (crotch-rocket, ape-hanger, etc...) for specific types of motorcycles, but for all types is just motorcycle and bike.

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macoafi@reddit

Thanks to the old "Hello Moto" commercials, I'd assume a Motorola-brand cellphone.

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BjornAltenburg@reddit

For motorcycle: hog is sometimes a valid option, and so is crotch rocket, and chopper. But each means a particular style of bike not bikes as a whole.

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Kristylane@reddit

HOG is Harley specific. It stands for Harley Owners Group. Kinda like AAA.

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Team503@reddit

Might have started that way, but hog is used to refer to any cruiser these days.

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MissionFever@reddit

I'll bet you that this varies greatly depending on who you ask.

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Team503@reddit

I dunno, man, I rode for more than a decade all over the continental US. Was short of my Iron Butt by 32 miles. Did track days, cross-country road trips, was active in all kinds of riding groups.

People called cruisers hogs pretty regularly, whether they were Harleys or not. I won't argue the origins, I honestly have no idea, I can just tell you how people have used it in my many years of experience.

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Team503@reddit

Sportbike over crotch rocket, and if it's Italian, pasta rocket.

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Old_Professional_378@reddit

Thank you! I hate the term “crotch rocket” but never knew what else to call them.

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Team503@reddit

Yeah, I don't like the term either. And I don't like "rice rocket" because I find it backhandedly racist, just like "pasta rocket".

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Cthulwutang@reddit

and rice burner

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TheFishtosser@reddit

Rice burner could also mean a Japanese “fast and furious” type car

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beenoc@reddit

Yeah, when I hear "rice burner" I think of, like, a modded Nissan Z or GR Corolla or something. A motorcycle would not be on the list.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

I knew what a crotch rocket was, but I did not know rice burner, my husband said it one day and he had to tell me what it was. And again pretty far removed from my world, but we hear them all the time.

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reyadeyat@reddit

Yeah, I heard "hello moto" in my head when I read the title.

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etds3@reddit

You know you had a good jingle when it’s immediately what people think of 15 years later.

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MissionFever@reddit

2 of my last 3 phones have been Motorolas. They still play that on startup.

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AffectionateTaro3209@reddit

Lol same 😂

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Theycallmesupa@reddit

Also yes

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einTier@reddit

Yup. Same.

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AluminumCansAndYarn@reddit

God same. I had moto smart phones for a while in the mid 2010s and every time the phone booted up, it played the jingle, hello moto.

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UmpireProper7683@reddit

Now that is a fantastic sign of amazing advertising right there.

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Efficient_Wheel_6333@reddit

So did I!

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FeelTheWrath79@reddit

I thought it was motto for some reason.

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ABelleWriter@reddit

Yuppp

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caryn1477@reddit

Same!

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Zellakate@reddit

Me too!

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KrazySunshine@reddit

Me too!

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MsPooka@reddit

I have a motorola and the default ringtone is hello moto and I never changed it.

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Ill_Industry6452@reddit

Yes, I “heard“ that too. My grandkids have Motorola cell phones.

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Awesomest_Possumest@reddit

They still say that when you turn the phone on lol. I can't afford iPhones and Samsungs but Motorola hasn't steered me wrong.

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Particular_Owl_8029@reddit

motor-ola was a radio used in motorized vehicals

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Crayshack@reddit

My first thought was Moto Moto.

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Norseman103@reddit

The name so nice you gotta say it twice.

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doktorch@reddit

no that's walla walla 😁

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OregonTrail8765@reddit

Same.

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wolschou@reddit

The french say moto for a motorcycle

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Express-Educator4377@reddit

Same!

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saggywitchtits@reddit

My first thought was "MotoGP", as in grand prix motorcycle racing.

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MonkMajor5224@reddit

Its not a motorcycle, its a chopper, baby

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v32010@reddit

Really glad this is already the top answer. My mind instantly went there. Really shows how great that ad campaign was.

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realnanoboy@reddit

I've had Motorola phones in the past. They boot up with that line, too.

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tangouniform2020@reddit

My wife worked for Mot, but not in the phone division. And Mot is what it was usually referred to in house.

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False_Ad_555@reddit

Still do

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appleparkfive@reddit

I've got a Motorola phone even now! The Moto G stylus is a great phone. I think it's one of the few made in India instead of China, which I thought was interesting. It's a stellar phone for the price, and I saved a ton of money. The camera isn't amazing, but aside from that I haven't seen any downsides. Has a headphone input and memory card slot too

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Voodoographer@reddit

Bike can also be confusing because I would assume you’re talking about a bicycle.

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Living_Implement_169@reddit

This. This was my first thought.

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EnsignNogIsMyCat@reddit

Fashion does have "moto" as a modifier. Moto jacket. Moto boots.

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Quantoskord@reddit

Motorbike really

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match_@reddit

What an insanely successful marketing campaign that was. It’s still triggers for a lot of people.

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uhsiv@reddit

I refer to my motorcycle as my moto and my bicycle as my bike.

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missbehavin21@reddit

This is exactly what I thought

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domestic_omnom@reddit

My second thought from the military was "motivation" or "motivator"

As in moto tattoo, moto run, etc

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Tasty_Pepper5867@reddit

My first thought too

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bajookish_amerikann@reddit

it’s a band obviously😼

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SeaAndSkyForever@reddit

I grew up on dirt bikes so "moto" definitely is a reference to motorcycles in my brain. Motocross, moto-guzzi, etc

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Super_Appearance_212@reddit

There was a "hello moto" commercial which referred to a Motorola phone, and that's what I think of.

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missbehavin21@reddit

OP some Americans refer to their motorcycle as “Their BIKE”

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MrsBenSolo1977@reddit

If I was reading in context, I would assume a very small bike or a moped.

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skylinesend@reddit

Dirt bike (motorcycle) racing is called moto cross, so I would be able to figure it out, but it is not a normal way to say motorcycle. I always called it "my bike" when I had one.

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Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit

"Moto" isn't a word.

Sure, people could probably figure it out but that's not a word in and of itself.

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Expensive-Shame@reddit

Maybe with context, but quite possibly not. You can say "motorcycle," "motorbike," or (if the context implies that you aren't talking about a bicycle) just "bike."

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Quantoskord@reddit

Dirt bike also, but that’s more specific

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Maronita2025@reddit

There are bicycles that are dirt bikes!

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imthe5thking@reddit

I think that also falls under the context thing. Like I live in a rural Montana town with a lot of rich farm kids. It was common for high school classmates to go “Wanna go ride bikes after school?” And really the context was “Wanna go jump 50 feet in the air with our jerry-rigged insanely fast 2-stroke dirt bikes?” And usually on someone’s land 20 miles out of town, they had homemade jumps made out of welded pipes and sheets of plywood, and full motocross tracks that they carved with a tractor with a ripper on the back of it.

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bstarr2000@reddit

I would know, but I grew up around and on bikes (motorcycles) and when some says bike I think motorcycle, but I’m not the norm

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HelenIlion@reddit

I didn’t grow up around bikes and have never ridden one and I agree with you. “Bike”= motorcycle, until the context tells me otherwise.

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Bright_Ices@reddit

I always ask, “Motor or cycle?”

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tubular1845@reddit

I would get that but I'd still find it weird because I've never heard an American call a motorcycle a motor bike

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Maronita2025@reddit

Americans do NOT call motorcycle a motorbike. A motorbike is DIFFERENT from a motorcycle. We have BOTH motorcycles and motorbikes!

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Effective_Pear4760@reddit

If I heard someone say motorbike, I would think a TukTuk or Vespa, not so much a hugely powered motorcycle. But I'd probably figure it out quickly.

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Prof-Rock@reddit

Grr-grrr or ding-ding?

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ninjette847@reddit

Weirdly I did grow up around motorcycles and most people I've dated have had them but I'd assume bicycle without more context.

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alegna12@reddit

I didn’t grow up around motorcycles. I enjoy cycling. When I mentioned my bike, too many folks assumed it was a motorcycle. I now call it my bicycle.

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cute_poop6@reddit

I grew up around and surround myself with bicycles so I think the opposite lol

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Maronita2025@reddit

Motorcycle and Motorbike are two very different things. They are NOT interchangeable!

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Maronita2025@reddit

Actually when I just read the question is the subject I was thinking of course we know what a moto is, but then I thought you meant "motto."

No, we would have no idea that you meant a motorcycle. Moto is NOT a recognized abbreviation.

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Mercuryshottoo@reddit

Yeah I mean we have moto jackets, though we would associate 'moto' more with Japanese crotch rockets versus traditional American motorcycles

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codenameajax67@reddit

If it's used in a sentence like MotoGP with context then people will understand.

But if you say, "I love my moto." No one would have a clue what you are talking about.

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hellogoawaynow@reddit

I would only think of moto in the context of motorcycles, specifically MotoGP bikes.

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PriorSecurity9784@reddit

When I saw the headline with no context, I didn’t know you meant motorcycle

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SilverB33@reddit

It would really depend on the context of what you're saying... cause I could either take it as motorcycle, or the engine of a vehicle.

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kmoonster@reddit

"Moto-cross" is a type of motorcycle race, and for people who grew up hearing television commercials "hello moto" is definitely a Motorola thing (the phones people mentioned).

On its own "moto" would not mean motorcycle unless you were already clearly discussing motorcycles. For example: "You have a nice Harley, my moto is a Yamaha". It still would not mean "motorcycle" but the listener would hear your accent and guess your meaning.

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NinjaKitten77CJ@reddit

Oh wow! I always thought it was motorcross for some reason!

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kmoonster@reddit

That name is also used

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mrbigbusiness@reddit

That was what came to mind for me (moto-cross or dirt bike) but I'd be in the minority of people who grew up riding dirt bikes and enjoying watching professional mororcross.

And what they said, I've never heard anybody call a motorcycle a "moto"

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ljb2x@reddit

Second this. Motocross was my first thought, but a shortened version of motorcycle is not "moto".

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cdb03b@reddit

No. We would probably be able to figure it out via context clues if the rest of your statements were clear, but we would not thing motorcycle by default.

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circa68@reddit

I’m from the US and yes, I know ‘moto’ but I am into racing of all types and I think it’s more associated with motocross etc than just motorcycles in general, if that makes any sense. Having ridden motorcycles the majority of my life, we tend to call them ‘bikes’.

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Sarah9954@reddit

No it's a cell phone brand that was extremely popular and still makes phones

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totally_not_a_spybot@reddit

Nowadays the phones are Lenovo, using the bought Motorola brand

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Decent_Cow@reddit

Furthermore, Motorola actually invented the cell phone in 1973. Back then, it weighed over 4 lb.

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Sarah9954@reddit

I had no idea but I certainly remember owning my moto razor

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PaddyBoy1994@reddit

I think it would be a mix. People who know motorcycles would probably know it meant a motorcycle (especially weirdos like me who know of brands like Moto Guzzi, lol). Those who don't know motorcycles would probably immediately think of a cellphone.

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bradlap@reddit

Most people associate “moto” with the Motorola smartphone company so I think you’ll run into that issue even if the context of your sentence is clear that you mean motorcycle.

American English speakers don’t really abbreviate words like the rest of the world. I work as a journalist and interviewed an Australian band once, who used the term “AirCon” to mean air conditioning and I needed them to explain it to me. And the context of the conversation was literally about the heat outside.

In learning French I’ve also learned that prof is a common abbreviation for professeur and in English, I might say prof in a super informal situation via text, but never in conversation.

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yourbrokenoven@reddit

Used to be short for Motorola.

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CR3ZZ@reddit

If you just said the word "moto" and told me to tell you what comes to mind I think Moto Gp race bike kind of thing. I do not think motorola

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starjammer69@reddit

We do have motocross which is motorcycles.

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CompetitiveBox314@reddit

In off-road racing the motorcycle class is often referred to as motos. But the average American probably doesn't think of that.

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ActuaLogic@reddit

Moto, as a shorthand form of motorcycle, would not be understood by most Americans. To most Americans, the shorthand form of motorcycle would be bike as a truncation of motorbike. The difference between bike meaning motorcycle and bike meaning bicycle would be the context in which the term is used.

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Samiam2197@reddit

I am very confused by this thread as an American. While I would not call a motorcycle a motorcycle, moto jacket is absolutely a common term that I’ve known since I was at least 12?

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Liquid-Double-Disco@reddit

Moto to me means “a moto” as in, one practice session of motocross 😹

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JohnnyCoolbreeze@reddit

Moto is a rare term in my experience. I’ve lived in several countries and never heard just ‘moto’ in reference to a motorcycle or scooter. In SE Asia it’s always been ‘motorbike.’ In the former USSR it’s ‘моторцикль’ (motortseekle).

I don’t think I’d have trouble figuring out but it’s a very Anglo term to me.

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Fun_Examination_1435@reddit

People call it a bike

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Jdawn82@reddit

I would think Motorola phone because of their “Hello Moto”

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Professional-Pungo@reddit

I wouldn’t.

I only know motorcycle by terms like “bike” or “hog”

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Aggravating_Bell_426@reddit

Don't forget "Iron Horse" and "Scoot"

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dkesh@reddit

A chopper if it belongs to Zed.

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IntroductionFluffy71@reddit

Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s. dead.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

An iron horse is a train. I've never heard of motorcycle referred to as an iron horse. I definitely heard trains refer to as iron horses.

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big_sugi@reddit

The Iron Horse is Lou Gehrig

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JanaKaySTL@reddit

Iron Horse for motorcycle, Scoot for a scooter....to my brain, anyway. But I'd probably just say motorcycle since some get confused when you say bike. I've had all 3, so it depends on who I'm talking to.

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EuphoricMoose8232@reddit

Iron horse is a locomotive.

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No_Throat_1271@reddit

They keep thinking of steel horse and saying iron horse.

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Fun_Push7168@reddit

No. Its common enough.

Even the wiki for 'iron horse' includes a section for motorcycle use.

American iron horse is also a brand of chopper.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_horse_(disambiguation)

Iron horse, a nickname for a motorcycle

Iron Horse (magazine), an American motorcycling publication

Operation Iron Horse, a government investigation of the Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club (USA

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HudsonMelvale2910@reddit

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that.

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No_Throat_1271@reddit

You are thinking steel horse.

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Professional-Pungo@reddit

I never heard those tbh.

There is also of course calling it a Harley, if the brand is in fact a Harley.

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Aggravating_Bell_426@reddit

Iron horse is an oollddd term, originally referring to the railroad. A variation of the term "Steel horse" can be heard in the Bon Jovi song "Wanted dead or alive"

https://youtu.be/SRvCvsRp5ho?si=QfmP8PXlL-VZHsEG

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No_Throat_1271@reddit

“On a steel horse I ride, wanted dead or alive” I know a motorcycle as steel horse but iron horse is train.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Lol, yep I just posted the same thing, an Iron Horse is a train.

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DaneLimmish@reddit

I think "motard" but I'm a veteran

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Off1ceb0ss@reddit

I see Moto I think of Moto-Cross racing

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version13@reddit

I would but only because I watch pro cycling on TV. The camera motorcycles are called moto.

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Thin-Quiet-2283@reddit

I grew up in Europe so I heard “moto” a lot growing up and understand when I hear it occasionally. Many often use “bike” which drives me crazy as a bicyclist…

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Sofa-king-high@reddit

If you tell the average American about moto, they’ll think of that hippo from that Madagascar movie

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LaFantasmita@reddit

I'm thinking it's something Japanese.

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TSells31@reddit

As a motocross racer, to me a moto is one motocross heat, if that makes sense. Probably not unless you also know other forms of racing lol.

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Antitenant@reddit

MotoGP is probably the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear "moto" but it depends on the context of the conversation

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ToBePacific@reddit

In the US, it’s mostly going to remind people of Motorola’s old “Hello Moto” ad slogan.

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drdpr8rbrts@reddit

Motorcycle riders will know but a typical American will have no idea.

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alegna12@reddit

If I heard the word moto, I would think it was short for motocross.

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Starfallknight@reddit

If i heard moto when talking about motorcycles I would think that person does motocross. Which is people racing and jumping dirtbikes (a type of motorcycle).

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zgillet@reddit

First thing I thought of was motocross.

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1337b337@reddit

I think the average American has only commonly hear moto in use as "Motocross," which is an off-road motorcycle used for obstical racing.

Funny enough, Motocross is descended from the English motorcycle trials, or just "Trials," and focuses more on speed instead of technical course navigation.

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Empty-Walrus4938@reddit

This is what I think of when I hear Moto

moto moto

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LastOfTheAsparagus@reddit

No

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Itsdanaozideshihou@reddit

My idea if someone says moto... "Short for "motivator" and "motivated." A term, used both pejoratively and endearingly, in the Marine Corps to describe anyone who is a motivated hard-charger or any thing (t-shirt, sweatshirt, bumper sticker, etc.) that promotes that type of Marine".

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Suppafly@reddit

It's kinda weird how groups come up with their own unique jargon for things like that.

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10k_Uzi@reddit

That’s what I was thinking lol. And I have said it afterwards at work, and then realized no one knows wtf I mean.

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PaRuSkLu@reddit

I was married to a Marine, this is where my thoughts went immediately.

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driving26inorovalley@reddit

My little brothers are, that’s the only time I’ve heard this word used lol.

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Acceptable_Peen@reddit

That’s exactly where my brain housing group went

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forwardobserver90@reddit

Rah

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Suppafly@reddit

Yes, we understand context and can figure out that moto means motorcycle in contexts where that would matter.

We don't use the word moto for motorcycle generally though. If you used in a sentence without context, they might think you are talking about Motorola, the phone manufacturer.

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draizetrain@reddit

It makes me think of Motorola instead of a motorcycle

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Clear_Parking_4137@reddit

I’m an American who has been riding motorcycles my whole life and would never call my bike a “moto.” In the right context I would understand though of course. I am aware it is used internationally. I pretty much always say “bike.” Everyone I know does too.

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Dorsai56@reddit

Motorbike. "Moto" is basically meaningless here.

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musashi-swanson@reddit

Completely different meaning for the Marines. I am convinced half of us think it’s spelled “motovation”

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NewCaptainGutz57@reddit

I think of Mr. Moto when I hear the word.

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thechurchchick@reddit

My first thought is Motorolla’s old commercial that said “hello moto” … motorcycle doesn’t even enter my mind.

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artemisdart@reddit

I would think of Motorola, because whenever I restart my phone it says, "Hello Moto!" to me.

"Moto" doesn't serve as a good shortening for motorcycle because it's missing the "r." Without the "r," it's not related to motor.

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aBlackKing@reddit

I’ve only ever heard bike used to refer to a motorcycle.

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TehNudel@reddit

My instinct was Motorola because they used to say "Hello Moto" on startup.

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mikuenergy@reddit

it wouldn't be my first guess but i'd be able to figure it out

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doubleohzerooo0@reddit

The average American is not a Spanish speaker, so no.

The average Mexican American will understand you love Menudo. (The Band)

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Kendota_Tanassian@reddit

When I hear "moto", I think of my Motorola phone, which always says "Hello, Moto" when it wakes up after being turned on.

I'd probably figure out you meant "motorcycle" from context, but my first thought would be "phone".

I've heard people shorten motorcycle to 'cycle, or just talk about their bike. Sometimes it takes me a minute to realize they mean a motorcycle and not a bicycle.

"Moto", itself, is not a common expression in American English, at all.

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jfellrath@reddit

I haven't ever heard that term. I'd likely thing you were talking about an old cell phone model.

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luispdua@reddit

I’ve heard it from enthusiasts from time to time, but it’s not in general use. I think people would likely be able to figure it out, but might confuse it with the phone brand.

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dehydratedrain@reddit

I could figure it out, but I'm not used to the word. Typically you'd say "my bike" though there's no way to determine if they mean bicycle outside of context clues. Cycle would be another good word, as people can also use that to mean both, but typically refer to a motorcycle.

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Nathan-Stubblefield@reddit

“Mr Moto” movies, 1930s with Peter Lorre.

“Hello Moto” ads for Motorola.

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Electronic-Ad-3825@reddit

I've watched enough motorcycle cam videos to know what it means. Moto Madness and Angry Dirt Bikers for the win.

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BigMomma12345678@reddit

Motorola!

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IrianJaya@reddit

No, I'd think you misspelled "motto".

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Therealmagicwands@reddit

Nope

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tzimplertimes@reddit

Nope, I would assume you’re talking about a Motorola phone. I’ve never heard of anyone use the phrase outside of that.

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NetFu@reddit

No. I might be unique, but my first thought when hearing "moto" is Motorola.

https://www.reddit.com/r/motorola/comments/1cll6tk/who_made_the_hello_moto_sound_when_you_start_up/

It's like when I was in the Philippines and they kept saying air-con. Eventually I figured out and got used to it meaning air conditioner, but certainly was confused in the beginning.

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doktorch@reddit

Motorola...."Hello moto"....nothing to do with motorcycles

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rawbface@reddit

Motorola had the slogan "hello moto", which would be my first association.

Motorcycle makes sense in context, but we don't call them that. "Bike" is shorter and more common.

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K_N0RRIS@reddit

It would take us a second to figure it out without context because we call them "bikes"

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JustSomeGuy556@reddit

Entirely context dependent. "Moto" is not generally used as a shorthand for motorcycle in the US, but would be understood by most people.

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ShakeWeightMyDick@reddit

No

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GetOffMyLawnYaPunk@reddit

Only if it's followed by Guzzi.

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Aryya261@reddit

No

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iuabv@reddit

If you said "Can I drive the moto?" maybe though it would still take an extra second. If you said "I bought a moto" I'd assume you bought a phone.

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CommercialWorried319@reddit

Moto is a phone or weed where I live

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masingen@reddit

Never heard "moto" for weed. Definitely heard "mota" a lot though.

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CommercialWorried319@reddit

My mistake, I mixed up my words, I don't smoke so I messed up

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chaamdouthere@reddit

Probably in context when not tired haha.

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Tossaway198832@reddit

When someone says they’re into moto… I assume they mean motocross racing.

I would never guess they mean they have a street style motorcycle

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NATRLNSEMINATIONTECH@reddit

Anyone who is or has spent time with US Marines uses "moto" to mean "motivated", "motivational", etc.

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Nightcoffee_365@reddit

If you say “moto” we will think of Motorola phones.

The only time it refers to bikes is in the word ”motocross” which is a type of dirt bike racing.

Generally two wheels = “Bike” and the rest is context.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

There is no way. I would never think Motorola phone and I 100% know that Moto means motorcycle, cuz I'm a woman and they sell moto clothes, moto jackets, moto pants, Moto boots, I 100% know that Moto equals motorcycle. I've never seen this Motorola commercial people are referring to and I would never think Motorola when I heard Moto. I can't believe that most women wouldn't automatically know because of moto fashion.

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94grampaw@reddit

"Hello moto" was used as a slogan for Motorola commercials for a long time

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Nightcoffee_365@reddit

Yes, there is a we. You can see my answer echoed throughout the comments. I was not stating it as some be all end all but one option where a bunch of options are being presented.

Make your own post if you’re so damn worried about it. And set your flair.

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JustAnotherDay1977@reddit

If someone just asked me what moto meant, I might guess wrong. But I figured it out a while back when I saw it used in context.

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serene_brutality@reddit

Moto is short for motor, frequently used in association with motorcycling things motocross, motoGP but not exclusively.

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Mago515@reddit

Moto is a cell phone company, that’s what I think of.

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Witty_Razzmatazz_566@reddit

I think a lot know Moto Jackets.

Although, I'm guessing you'd get those that automatically think Motorola phones because of the old commercials...'Hello Moto".

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Particular_Bet_5466@reddit

Yeah, but few Americans use the word moto. I would just think someone is foreign if they said moto, to me at least I think of it as a word people use in other countries. We have supermoto but I’ve never heard an American say moto.

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Tynelia23@reddit

Moto Moto, the name so nice, you say it twice?

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davidm2232@reddit

Moto means cell phone, like Kleenex means tissue.

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audioaddict321@reddit

I would, but it's what my little cousin would say for motorcycle and his first language was Spanish. So "average American" might since there are so many heritage Spanish speakers, too. But average monolingual likely wouldn't.

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Riker_Omega_Three@reddit

Non americans tend to shorten words differently than Americans

Bike would a shortened form of Motorcycle in the US...with context being key. Like if a Bar has a Bike Night...that's for motorcycles, not bicycles

A motorcycle that goes off road is not a moto, it would be a dirt bike

It's just a weird quirk of geography and language

Brits call vacuum cleaners Hoovers even though Hoover is a brand name and the device is literally a vacuum cleaner

It's just how language evolves over different geographical locations

Americans shortened Television to TV whereas Brits say Telly

We say Elevator Brits say Lift

We say Parking lot brits say car park

I think if you gave context, most people would understand moto means motorcycle...especially people who have watched Motocross or played video games with moto in the title

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Elite_Slacker@reddit

I would assume you are talking about dirt bike racing (motocross)

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jay_altair@reddit

I would assume you were specifically talking about motocross.

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_haha_oh_wow_@reddit

I would assume you're referring to motor sports, which can include various motorcycles and dirtbikes.

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DangerousResearch236@reddit

In the right context, yes. I would say Moto to an American would be a generic term for anything to do with a race of one kind or another.

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Radiant-Pomelo-3229@reddit

Moto is Motorola to me. Not for younger people but I just remember all those hello Moto commercials from the earlier days of cell phone so that’s always what it will mean to me.

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Empty-Cycle2731@reddit

Never heard of that word referring to a motorcycle. I would assume a Motorola phone.

We generally just use "motorcycle." Less common words would be "motorbike," "hog," and, in the right context, "bike."

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mrbigbusiness@reddit

and a hog would be a specific kind of bike, typically a harley davidson or large cruiser. It'd be weird if somebody called a sportbike a hog.

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Weedman1079@reddit

After reading the question I heard “hello moto” in my head.

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GrimSpirit42@reddit

In the US, if you say 'Moto' they will think you're talking about a Motorola cell phone due to an old advertising slogan 'Hello Moto'.

There are various slang for Motorcycles in the US.

Harley-style motorcycles: Bike, Chopper, Hog (or Hawg), Ride, Sled, Beast.
Ninja-style motorcycles: Crotch-rocket, Rice-rocket, Cafe, Cafe Racer, Donercycles,
Moped-style: Scooter, Vespa, Mini-bike.

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GrizznessOnly@reddit

Hello Moto

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GrizznessOnly@reddit

Hello Moto

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kelariy@reddit

For me “moto” usually denotes more of a dirt bike style bike (referring mostly to motocross), rather than just any motorcycle. Maybe that’s because I grew up with dirt bikes and I’m an avid motorcyclist. Maybe it’s due to the region (PNW) I grew up in, but where I live in CO now I don’t know if I’ve heard “moto” as a catch all for motorcycles either.

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GurglingWaffle@reddit

I have been riding a motorcycle for 30+ years and have never heard moto used to describe one. It's either motorcycle or bike and occasionally crotch rocket. Sometimes they use the brand, like "I rode my Harley here."

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wvtarheel@reddit

I read your comment, and said, yes, that's a Motorola cell phone. Then opened it up.

Nobody calls motorcycles motos in the USA

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Puzzleheaded-Eye6596@reddit

no, unless there is further context in the discussion

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Fire_Mission@reddit

We don't use moto, at least not in my area.

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imissher4ever@reddit

Moto-X

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BryonyVaughn@reddit

Only is the context is motocross or moto jacket. Moto does not stand on its own as a substitute for motorcycle. Chopper, hog, bike, crotch rocket, rice burner, cruiser, and bobber can be substituted for motorcycles generally or classes of motorcycles. More specific slang is used for brands and lines of motorcycles.

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emoryhotchkiss1@reddit

I would think motogp honestly. Not many people watch motogp in America though

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opalandolive@reddit

Probably not. But my daughter called them "motos" when she was young and couldn't say that many syllables, so I wouldn't be as surprised as most.

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The_Menu_Guy@reddit

Yep

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phydaux4242@reddit

We would recognize it from context clues if you used it as a prefix, or as part of a compound word. But just “moto” all by itself doesn’t say motorcycle to me.

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schec1@reddit

If I heard someone use the term “moto” I’d assume they would be referring to either a car or motorcycle. Since it’s close to motor which is another name for an engine.

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Leading-Summer-4724@reddit

I know’s short for motorcycle only because my prior boss used to race them in the US and Europe, and I had to do all his correspondence etc. Otherwise I’d probably assume moto was slang for automobile if you were just talking about racing them.

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FrankNumber37@reddit

I've heard Nigerians use the word moto, but only in reference to what Americans would call motorbikes or mopeds.

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abbot_x@reddit

I’m not familiar with the use of “moto” to mean motorcycle in English. It’s not used by Americans in that sense.

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drsfmd@reddit

I would never, ever think "Moto" meant motorcycle.

Just like I wouldn't think the Aussies saying "Bikie" mean a 1%-er outlaw motorcycle gang member. "Bikie" sounds like something a little kid would say.

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OldeTimeyShit@reddit

Given the appropriate context, I would probably know what you’re talking about but it’s not a slang that Americans typically use.

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Cowboywizard12@reddit

My Parents had a Moto Guzzi so I guess

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CompanyOther2608@reddit

No.

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DuplicateJester@reddit

Moto is a style of fashion inspired by motorcycling. Moto boots, moto leggings, moto jacket. Leather (fake or real), quilting, studs. I would not actually wear any of it on a motorcycle. I do enjoy the trend though. Love my faux leather moto SPANX.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Exactly. I have Moto jackets, I have Moto leggings, I have tops with Moto details, I can't imagine any woman not knowing that Moto = motorcycle.

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rando24183@reddit

I'm an American woman, not familiar with the term "moto jacket". Looking it up now, I've apparently owned a few. But always just called them leather jackets or denim jackets.

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Effective_Pear4760@reddit

TIL.

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CayugaCT@reddit

I've heard Brits use "moto" to refer to scooters (Vespa-like things, or maybe what we in the U.S. used to call mopeds). I've never heard it used for a motorcycle, and can't imagine what the other meanings you say it has might be. Apologies for the ignorance.

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Successful-Safety858@reddit

I misread the title and thought you meant motto. So probably not.

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TheSpanishMain1@reddit

If you said it in context, they might get it. Like “I rode my moto to the store.”

But otherwise, I doubt it.

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Kielbasa_Nunchucka@reddit

I thought of the Spanish slang for marijuana, "mota"

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Aware_Acanthaceae_78@reddit

No, we don’t use moto.

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SabresBills69@reddit

Moto does not draw yhst connection. As others mentioned thr Motorola commercial.

Motorcycle and bicycle and moped are the wods.

If someone talks about the bike or cycle you need yo know the person. A kid naturally is talking about a bicyle. adult is talking about motorcycle. Adults in kzrge cities only use bicycles.

Along with mopeds you have motorized dirt bikes and e-bokes

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Team503@reddit

In the US, motorcycle would be "bike" for short. Sportbike, hog, cruiser, or just "bike". In the UK, Ireland, and Australia, it's more often called a "motorbike".

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ith228@reddit

If they are Latino/speak Spanish then yes. Otherwise no, it’s a very Romance language way of describing a motorcycle.

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Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit

NO - moto cold be short for lots of things

Just use motorcycle

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JosephBlowsephThe3rd@reddit

Moto surf!

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shelwood46@reddit

I would assume you mean motocross, which use a very small specialized motorbike, but if you said it was short for motorcycle, I would be puzzled and assume you weren't from America because, no, we do not know what you mean or abbreviate it that way.

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gremlinguy@reddit

I raced motocross on a 50 horsepower Austrian bike with a 36 in saddle height. Motocross bikes are not "very small" in any sense

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gremlinguy@reddit

Even in the world of motorcycles in America "moto" does not mean motorcycle.

I raced motocross and hare scrambles, and the races are sometimes divided up into sub-races, usually 2 or 3. Those sub-races are called motos. So, you may win the first moto, and place 5th in the second moto, gaining certain numbers of points, and at the end, the points from all motos are tallied to determine a winner.

If I were at a motocross track and someone said "what a cool moto" I would immediately think they were talking about how good of a sub-race they just saw/had.

I live in Spain now, and I hear and say "la moto" all the time, though half of what people here consider motorcycles, Americans would call scooters (step-through, clutchless bikes).

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Zephyr_Dragon49@reddit

Without context, I'd assume it's a mispronunciation of motto.

If you're talking about motorcycle races or dirt bikes, we call them motor-sports. If you just mean the machines I guess moto whould be understood with context but most people just call them bikes for short

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TheCouncilOfPete@reddit

If you said "moto" to me I'd assume you meant "motor"

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PineappleFit317@reddit

No. Our shorthand term for motorcycle is “bike”. If you said “I’m going to go for a ride on my moto”, most would know what you mean due to context, but they’d be thinking “That’s a weird word for it”.

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igotshadowbaned@reddit

Depends on the context. If you just said the word on its own I'd assume you meant "motto" and chalk up the pronunciation as a dialect thing. If you said "I rode my moto here" then I'd probably have an idea of what you meant

Similarly in text, I read the title and because there isn't any context that uses the meaning of the word, I thought you just typo'd motto.

[-]

raexlouise13@reddit

Probably not. There is a local pizza place called Moto, so I’d think of that before motorcycle tbh.

[-]

CaptainPunisher@reddit

You mean like motocross? Moto Gran Prix? Motorola Moto X on a motorcycle? Moto Joto? Oh, wait. That is Mojo Jo Jo who is telling you the things of which you are learning now, for the knowledge that is being conveyed shall only be once and only once shall the knowledge be conveyed. CURRRSSSESSSSSS...

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lantana98@reddit

No we don’t shorten it to that.

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iDreamiPursueiBecome@reddit

I thought someone dropped a 't' in motto

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Southern-Interest347@reddit

no

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cHaNgEuSeRnAmE102@reddit

Hello moto!

It stands for Motorola in America. Lol

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ngshafer@reddit

In context, we could probably figure it out. But, "moto" is not a common term for a motorcycle in America.

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Hot_Car6476@reddit

No. The word would not convey that meaning. However, using it in context, most Americans will probably be able to figure out what you’re talking about.

You could just as easily say: - momo - mo-bi - zoom bike - etc…

None of them convey the meaning you intend, but in context, they would be understood

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TDFPH@reddit

Yes. It’s how I refer to my moto(rcycle)

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Jcamp9000@reddit

Motorcycle is commonly referred to as mcy I wouldn’t relate moto to motorcycle

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capsrock02@reddit

Is that a typo for motto?

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OK_The_Nomad@reddit

I don't think Americans would understand the term as it is not used here.

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PymsPublicityLtd@reddit

Average American here. You like "Moto Guzzi"?

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bizoticallyyours83@reddit

I remember a phone called moto. The only thing connected with motorcycles that come to mind is a character from Biker Mice From Mars named Moto.

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HRHDechessNapsaLot@reddit

No, I wouldn’t say so. While I would maybe get to motorcycle from moto because I would think “moto - moto jacket - motorcycle jacket,” it’s not a common nickname for a motorcycle in America. We typically call them bikes if they are sporty/race motorcycles and “hogs” if they are Harleys.

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a_filing_cabinet@reddit

Moto is just a generic root word. There's a ton of different things that moto could refer to, even beyond just referring to motors. As with any abbreviation, the context in the conversation should be enough for anyone to understand what someone is talking about.

But absolutely no one ever calls a motorcycle a moto. Bike, cycle, motorbike, chopper, they are all words people would use for a motorcycle, but never moto. But in the context of a normal conversation most people would probably figure it out.

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txlady100@reddit

Probably not.

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Maleficent-Ad5112@reddit

Only if you say motor guzzi

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InvestigatorJaded261@reddit

No. I would not get any connection to motorcycle without significant visual or verbal hints.

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Building_a_life@reddit

Moto means motorcycle to me, but that's because I speak Spanish. I don't think Americans who only speak English would make the connection.

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metdear@reddit

I would associate "moto" with motocross, so I guess still a motorcycle, but it's a specific style of dirt bike on a course with jumps.

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MarcooseOnTheLoose@reddit

American bikers know what you’re talking about.

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Plow_King@reddit

if someone said "this guy was riding a moto" i'd gather they meant motorcycle. it's a bit old, but it checks out.

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RedditWidow@reddit

The first thing I think of when I hear "moto" is motocross, which is off-road motorcycle racing that's been around for decades.

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Typical_Dweller@reddit

I recall French having 'moto' as a car of some kind.

I've also seen some military guys on reddit using 'moto' to mean something like motivation/motivated (usually in a mocking way, as in "try-hard").

[-]

mcm87@reddit

Might make that interpretation if they were obviously motorcyclists (jacket, helmet) and had an accent.

I have a military background so in that context “moto” is short for “motivated,” usually in a mocking sort of way. Moto tattoos, moto shirts, etc. The sort of stuff on r/justbootthings

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bullettrain@reddit

No. Most Americans would not equate moto with motorcycle.

[-]

DeathMetalBunnies@reddit

I honestly assumed when I started reading this you misspelled "motto" for a second. I think it would sound weird to an American. Typical slang for motorcycles include "bike" (I know it's weird but it's short for motorbike ) or "chopper" (I honestly have no idea where that comes from).

[-]

bobjkelly@reddit

No. No clue what this is about.

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tangouniform2020@reddit

In addition to phones, if you said you were referring to motorcycles I would think motocross. And each run is normally called a moto.

But motorcycles? Not on my list.

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Regigiformayor@reddit

We say motorcycle or bike usually

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Sleepygirl57@reddit

Hello Moto

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SkyPork@reddit

Not for motorcycle, no.

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AlanofAdelaide@reddit

According to Wiki 'Moto GP' originated in 2002 but no idea who coined the strange word 'moto'. Sounds very European

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Bright_Ices@reddit

I would think of a cellphone first, but even when clarified, I think of “motos” as more like smaller motorbikes or even scooters (scooter as in a Vespa or similar) than motorcycles like a Harley.

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DonkeyGlad653@reddit

I see moto and think British slang for motor biking.

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quietlywatching6@reddit

I would probably figure it out, but we tend to choose a bike over moto to shorten a motorcycle.

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Catsdrinkingbeer@reddit

Average American probably not. People who ride motorcycles possibly. I bought my Vespa at a dealership with Moto in the name.

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Smart_Measurement_70@reddit

Me thinks moto moto likes you is all I can think of

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AdministrativeBet231@reddit

Not sure I would recommend using it. Depending on your accent I might assume you meant motto, as in a phrase you live your life by.

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WendyWilliamsFart@reddit

Thanks to Rosalia I am familiar with the association

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Several_Celebration@reddit

I would imagine there may be enough context to figure out that moto meant motorcycle.

But if I hear someone say, “I have a moto.” I would assume I misheard you long before I thought motorcycle.

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More_Possession_519@reddit

I would but I grew up in a border city where I grew up surrounded by Spanish speakers. I wasn’t quite fluent but definitely would know Moto as motorcycle.

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miseeker@reddit

If you use it in context, I’ll understand it.

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BlackEyedAngel01@reddit

Yes. I watch European bike racing (tour de France, etc) that’s how I know what a moto is.

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niahpapaya@reddit

Spanish speaking areas would figure it out.

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ZephRyder@reddit

"Moto" could be anything with a motor.

Not enough of a differentiator in American English, so no, we would not assume motorcycle.

Personally, as a motorcycle rider, if you said "moto" to me with any kind of accent, I might think you were referring to any number of small-engine bike, that barely qualify as "motorcycle" in American popular culture, and get called "motorbike"

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YoshiandAims@reddit

Yes

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SpiritfireSparks@reddit

I live in a state with a lot of Italian descendants who speak a slightly butchered version of Italian. If I hear 'moto' its gonna make me think "molto bene" since no one here pronounces the L in molto. If also assume someone would say "mangia, mangia!" At some point in the conversation too.

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Scoundrels_n_Vermin@reddit

US Marines say "Moto" all the time as a short form of motivator, motivation, etc. It's what I first thought when you used the term.

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Winter_Whole2080@reddit

In context like Moto GP sure

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cheekmo_52@reddit

No. I would think you were referring to Motorola electronics without any context clues.

In America we don’t shorten motorcycle to “moto” except in words like motocross. It is more common to call a motorcycle a bike, or refer to it by the maker’s name (such as a Harley).

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valdocs_user@reddit

I was in the Marines so to me moto means "motivated" like the guy who has branded gear and still does PT on his day off.

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Constellation-88@reddit

Nope. Nobody uses Moto as an abbreviation for motorcycle. I hear the term bike, but I hate that because I think of a bicycle so I just say motorcycle.

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Jeff998g@reddit

Motocross Moto GP

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MeepleMerson@reddit

I think most Americans would assume you meant motorcycle, though there were a series of advertisements in the US for Motorola that tried to associate “Moto” with their brand. People of a certain age might think of a cellphone.

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MakalakaPeaka@reddit

“Moto” isn’t used as slang or a shortened word for “motorcycle“.

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Accomplished_Ad6551@reddit

Maybe… but it would definitely sound odd to most. As others have said, I would probably first think you were referring to your phone. It would be better to call it a “bike”.

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nauticalfiesta@reddit

They're probably going to think its a Motorola cell phone.

If you say someone has a "bike" or a "cycle" they'll probably think you're talking about a motorcycle.

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Avasia1717@reddit

i never heard of the hello moto thing other people are taking about. but i’d only associate moto with motorcycle because i know a bit of spanish. the english-speaking americans i know either call them motorcycles or bikes. bikes only when it’s clear from context that they don’t mean bicycle, because bike can mean bicycle too.

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alltheblues@reddit

Moto is not a shorthand people here use, though with context I bet most people would figure it out. Bike is short for motorbike/motorcycle.

If you said something like moto jacket or moto rider, most people would understand.

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ClockWeasel@reddit

“-cross”? “-jacket”? phone?

It’s like regional nicknames for mobile cellular telephones—most do not cross borders, so you absolutely cannot call it a handy in the US regardless of what Australia does.

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jacowab@reddit

Depending on how you pronounce it moto is either a phone brand or an word for an iconic saying.

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ProbablyMyRealName@reddit

I associate “moto” with motocross.

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LowerSlowerOlder@reddit

To me a moto is one of the “pre” races used to determine who goes to the finals.

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JBrewd@reddit

Broadly, no. In certain context, yes. I (Hawaii, US) talk about it like this to friends who are also into stuff like MotoGP, Motocross, etc.

However I wouldn't use it unless I know the other person already understands the word in that way.

And with people I know we'll differentiate between motosport (2 wheel racing) and motorsport (4 wheel racing), but even moreso than the above, I would never use this outside of a context where I already knew it would be properly differentiated (esp because it's so common in spoken English to drop Rs)

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bomber991@reddit

It would take a good amount of context for me, and I follow MotoGP. Motorcycle or Bike are the words I'd be looking for. Or Scooter.

Motorola, use to make cell phones and had a default text message notification of "Hello Moto" for a little while. The company itself started out as making radios for cars, so it was "Motor-ola" because it sounded like an audio device kind of thing but for cars.

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Avalanche325@reddit

I would. It makes sense to me.

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Avalanche325@reddit

Oh. You said average American. Never mind.

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Temporary_Cow_8486@reddit

Moto = joint/blunt

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glueintheworld@reddit

Toe, moto means Motorola.

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D-ouble-D-utch@reddit

Master of the obvious?

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petrichorb4therain@reddit

Motocross. My uncle used to ride it.

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Snoo_16677@reddit

Yes, I'm on a Moto phone now. I would never associate "Moto" with a motorcycle.

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uhsiv@reddit

I call my motorcycle my "moto" all the time and no one is ever confused. But there is context that makes it makes it easy to figure out. I don't call it my bike because I ride a bicycle a lot, too.

2 > 4

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Maria_Dragon@reddit

I'm a bilingual American so to me it seems obvious...

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RizzmwitTheTism@reddit

No. I’m familiar with it meaning motorcycle in the context of describing boots or jackets (moto jacket/moto boot brings visions of a particular motorcycle-rider style), but if someone just said “moto” plain I would have to try to figure out what they meant in context. If they said “bike” I’d think of either bicycle or motorcycle

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Ms-Metal@reddit

I would think so. I've never heard these commercials other people are talking about, so I don't know it from that, but I am into fashion and I know what a moto jacket is, obviously short for motorcycle, I mean it's obvious enough that I would think anybody with half a brain who didn't know would be able to figure it out. Although, I did once tell somebody nice tats and the person I was with had no idea what I meant by tats. That one kind of was shocking to me. Even if you've never heard anybody say it which was her defense, I would think you'd be able to figure out what it was since she then witnessed me having a conversation with the person I had complemented who is showing me their tattoos, so I would think it's kind of self-explanatory LOL that's the same way I feel about moto.

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rogue780@reddit

tbh, if I heard someone sincerely refer to their motorcycle as their "moto" I would find it ridiculous and probably make fun of them either to their face or behind their back.

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bonvoyageespionage@reddit

Well, I mostly associate moto with weird pig mutants due to a British post apocalypse novel I recently read, but I think I'm an edge case.

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berniexanderz@reddit

I am one of the almost 60 million Spanish speakers in the USA, yes I know moto means motorcycle

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yidsinamerica@reddit

Yes. Motocross is relatively popular here.

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AdEmbarrassed9719@reddit

The only association I have with “moto” is “moto jacket” which is a type of leather jacket associated with motorcycle style. But those generally are worn by people into fashion, not those who actually ride bikes.

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TRLK9802@reddit

Yes, because of Motocross (motorcycle racing).

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limon_picante@reddit

Yes but only because I have a lot of Spanish speaking friends and they call them motos in spanish

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Adorable-Growth-6551@reddit

I would just assume you are saying motto wrong

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MissionFever@reddit

I had to re-read OP's question about three times before my brain would accept that that wasn't the case.

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Revo63@reddit

For me I recognized it and thought of motocross (moto-X).

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dale1320@reddit

Heather's would get moto as motorcycle from the context. The average Americsn, probably not. We do have "motocross" here.

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Possible-Today7233@reddit

I’ve never heard of using moto for motorcycle. I’m over fifty and have lived in five states. I learned something new today!

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bubba1834@reddit

Thought you meant motto lol

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paddington-1@reddit

I’ve never heard that term, so unless it was on a commercial that showed what it was I’d be lost.

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QnsConcrete@reddit

In the US military it’s slang for gung-ho/very motivated. It can be used in a derogatory way too, meaning someone is a bit too over-the-top.

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TheOfficialKramer@reddit

I thought of a cell phone. Just call it a motorcycle or a bike. Nobody would know that you meant motorcycle by calling it moto.

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glendacc37@reddit

Moto doesn't infer motorcycle to me at all. I wouldn't know what youre talking about. Motorcycles and bicycles are occasionally referred to as a cycle though.

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Weekly_Barnacle_485@reddit

No chance an American would make that connection. The usual slang term is bike.

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Apocalyptic0n3@reddit

I would not. All I think of is "Hello Moto" commercials. A motorcycle is shortened to bike, chopper, hog, and a few others here.

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_Hickory@reddit

Why, what's a moto with you?

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annang@reddit

If the sentence were “I rode my moto to work,” I’d probably figure it out. If the sentence were “I’m saving up to buy a new moto,” I’d have no idea. It’s not a term I’ve ever heard anyone use in the US.

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tesseractjane@reddit

I assumed you left a T out of motto.

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Aaron696@reddit

No. First thing I think of is the hippo saying “Moto Moto likes you” in that Madagascar movie

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False_Ad_555@reddit

As a fan of moto cross racing since the mid '70s I knew exactly what you meant. There was a huge track (it was a former 18 hole golf course) just 2 miles from my house, and I used to get free admission and a hot lunch in exchange for safety flagging the races. Plus I made a huge number of friends among the racers and crews. My cousin went on to become the president of the local racers club. They also ran a section of Enduro races across part of our farm.

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Living_Molasses4719@reddit

I associate it with moto boots and moto jackets, they are styles that began with motorcycle folks

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winteriscoming9099@reddit

I think they’d assume it refers to a Motorola phone before a motorcycle, but people would understand with context.

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AggressiveKing8314@reddit

My first thought was moto cross.

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Epyphyte@reddit

Moto is slang for motivated my man.

As in, this ripped fuel has got me moto as fuck. -Ray Person

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fakeuserisreal@reddit

If I heard someone talk about a "moto" out of context I would assume they're talking about a Motomart gas station/convenience store. Idk if they're a big chain, but there's lots of them where I live.

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Forsaken_Distance777@reddit

The abbreviation is bike not moto.

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Wicket2024@reddit

No, I have never heard moto being related to a motorcycle.

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JenniferJuniper6@reddit

No. No one would ever say that, and I doubt people could guess unless you were, maybe, pointing at a motorcycle while you said it. We say “bike”

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Mr_MacGrubber@reddit

I’ve never heard anyone call a motorcycle a moto and I’d think of the Motorola ads if I heard it.

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toiletparrot@reddit

It depends on the context but I think yes, it’s recognisable. Motocross is pretty popular, and lots of other motorcycle competitions are Moto-something. I’m 22 so I’ve never seen a Motorola commercial lol, I think younger people would get it more

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quixoft@reddit

In the case of mountain biking, yes. Front brake on the right is "moto style"?

Also in the term "motocross"

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sneezhousing@reddit

I wouldn't. Maybe in right context I could make a guess and I'd have to think about it. It wouldn't be first on my mind

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PlannedSkinniness@reddit

Honestly someone could tell me they rode their moto to work and I’d definitely ask what that is. It sounds like some new type of scooter that I just haven’t seen yet.

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seajayacas@reddit

Moto doesn't register with too many Americans I would imagine

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MajorPaper4169@reddit

Lo que hablan español, si.

If you were in my neighborhood and said moto pretty much everybody would understand.

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MattieShoes@reddit

Motorola

Alternately, The hippo from Madagascar

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HawaiianSteak@reddit

Moto can be "motivational" things in the military, like painting symbols or sayings on the barrel of a tank or the side of a Humvee. It can be an insult when describing someone that's an "eager beaver".

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kingofturtles@reddit

To me someone who is "moto" would be someone super motivated, to the point of good-humored ridicule. A moto person would whine that a hike is only 20 miles, when everyone else would complain about it being over 10.

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WFOMO@reddit

To me "moto" was each race in a motocross event.

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hatred-shapped@reddit

A moto is one part of a motorcycle race. Mostly off-road but also supermoto.

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ProjectGameGlow@reddit

Motocross

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hatred-shapped@reddit

We also called a single heat in road racing a moto

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ProjectGameGlow@reddit

I was once on Cable TV on a station called G4 in the final for of a Game Called Moto GP. The game seemed very European. Im not sure if it was ever very popular in the USA.

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d4sbwitu@reddit

We have a gas/petrol station chain in my area called MotoMart - Moto for short. I would think you were referring to a gas station.

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jonesnori@reddit

I know the word from studying Spanish a bit, but it's not an English usage, no.

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ac7ss@reddit

Motorola is first to mind. Motor is the prefix you are referencing and sometimes is shortened (in a lazy way) for words like motorsports.

Moto is also a brand name from Motorola for early cell phones.

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jonesdb@reddit

In context I would. We have motocross races. MotoGuzzi bikes. Out of context I totally think of the old Motorola ads though.

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DuelJ@reddit

I'd suspect it, and need only a little context to confirm it.

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caryn1477@reddit

No. I would have no idea what you're talking about. Just say bike.

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Franklinricard@reddit

Moto Guzzi

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GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit

It’s a phone.

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machuitzil@reddit

I know too many kids from Temecula so whenever I hear moto I think Moto! said with like a deep, arena Monster Truck voice that echoes in a very masculine way. And yeah, it means motorcycles, specifically dirt bikes. X Games, flips and shit.

When I close my eyes I see a monster energy drink logo.

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cat_in_a_bday_hat@reddit

motocross vibes

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TaquitoLaw@reddit

I think of an over enthusiastic Marine

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t0bramycin@reddit

The 60 million Spanish speakers in the US would understand moto as motorcycle. Those who only speak English would not.

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machagogo@reddit

As in Moto GP, Motocross, motorcycle??? Yeah.

But context is key as with most English.

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Live_Badger7941@reddit

In context, yes.

In fact, "moto" in American English is a style of leather jacket that's associated with motorcycles.

Without context, people might not immediately know what you mean.

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wheelsonhell@reddit

Moto = motorola.

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animepuppyluvr@reddit

As a younger person, my first thought was "A name so nice, you say it twice." from the second(?) Madagascar movie lol

I read another comment who thought of the phone company which sparked a long lost memory.

No where in my mind would I have thought of a motorcycle.

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Vivid_Witness8204@reddit

In context I would certainly think you were talking about a motorcycle.

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ActuallyNiceIRL@reddit

To veterans of the US Marine Corps, moto is an abbreviation for motivated/motivational. Usually used ironically for people who try too hard and are too into being Marines.

I have never heard anyone use "moto" as an abbreviation for motorcycle.

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LibrarianAcrobatic21@reddit

I think of moto sports.

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unknown_anaconda@reddit

It isn't something a native US English speaker would say. Without context there might be some confusion, but in a conversation there would probably be enough context for them to understand what you mean.

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jordanekay@reddit

No.

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Awkward_Tip1006@reddit

We don’t say “moto” to refer to a motorcycle you can say bike.

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Decent_Cow@reddit

I don't think so. Moto sounds like "motor", so it could mean a lot of things.

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ohmillie25@reddit

I’m 21 and I wouldn’t know what it meant

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Much_Box996@reddit

Moto GP baby

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AdelleDeWitt@reddit

Motorola?

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Nightmare_Gerbil@reddit

In a context like “motocross” yes, but otherwise there are a lot of products, restaurants and other businesses called Moto.

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StandardLocal3929@reddit

What is the context?

If someone was speaking Spanish, an American might happen to either speak it, or know enough (it's the most commonly taught language here) to recognize the word.

Otherwise, an American who is reaching for recognizable words to make sense of something being said in another language, might guess it.

If it was used in an otherwise English conversation, anyone would guess you mean motorcycle if the context made it plain it was a vehicle ('I rode my moto here'). But if there were no clues, someone might instead guess you were talking about a phone.

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aquay@reddit

It means Motorola to me.

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TeamTurnus@reddit

Probably not, never heard it used that way.

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Wunktacular@reddit

Most of us know moto cross.

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edwbuck@reddit

Most people would at least understand the first definition of the prefix

- Having or relating to a motor

And many would understand by context the second meaning

- Related to movement.

That's because we use the word either as a prefix or a hypenated word all the time.

motorcycle
motor-car
motorcross

But less common words could be guessed at (these were searched for terms, I didn't need to look up their definitions)

motograph (a graph having somethign to do with motion)
motometer (a device or measurement of some sort of motion)
motoneuron (a neuron / nerve that controls body movement)

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theromanempire1923@reddit

The only moto I know is a fictional hippopotamus

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Nerdso77@reddit

I would assume it was motocross. Dirt bikes. A lot of people wouldn’t though.

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DOMSdeluise@reddit

if you called a motorcycle a moto I don't think people would understand you because nobody calls it that.

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ProjectGameGlow@reddit

Motocross is like off road motorcycle races with large jumps. Dirt bikes is another term.

Motocross is the closest thing we have to moto

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OkConsideration9002@reddit

Motorcar, motorbike, Motorola, motorhome, and motocross all come to mind.

But in context, yeah, I would probably figure it out.

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Spare-Anxiety-547@reddit

Nope. Bike is the nickname I would use for a motorcycle. If you said motorcycle, I would never think you meant motorcycle.

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AshDenver@reddit

Moto-cross is what comes to mind.

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JohnHenryMillerTime@reddit

I might be able to understand from context but after Ducati messed up "futa" Im not sure what is real anymore.

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AlabasterPelican@reddit

♪♪ hello moto ♪♪.

No, we wouldn't. Motorbike is an acceptable alternative to motorcycle, but the typical shortened version is just "bike."

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knuckles_nice@reddit

Depends on context, but it's more common for Americans to shorten 'motorcycle' to 'bike' than 'moto.' If someone was complimenting your motorcycle on the street, they'd say 'Nice bike' not 'Nice moto.' It can get confusing with bicycles vs. motorocycles, but generally speaking, a 'cylist' is someone who rides a bicycle, and a 'biker' is someone who rides a motorcycle.

Or, if it is a Harley-Davidson, people will just call their bikes 'my Harley' or 'my hog.'

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