The Volkswagen Beetle’s nickname in the United States is “Bug.”
The name reflects the car’s rounded, insect-like shape. The automobile was officially known for decades as the Volkswagen Type 1, while “Beetle” and “Bug” developed as popular names in different markets. In the United States, “Bug” became especially familiar through everyday speech, advertising, and car culture.
The nickname is not the same as “Käfer,” the German word for beetle. “Käfer” is used in German-speaking contexts, while “Bug” is the characteristic American English nickname. “Beetle” is also widely understood in the United States, but the question asks specifically for the nickname, making “Bug” the canonical choice.
The term helped inspire expressions such as “Punch buggy” or “Slug bug,” a spotting game in which players call out Beetles they see on the road. Volkswagen later used “New Beetle” as the official name for its modern retro-styled successor.