A clear glass bottle filled with golden cooking oil, sitting next to a small ceramic bowl on a wooden counter.

aceite

ah-SAY-teh

nounmA1

oil?cooking or general liquid substance

Also:lubricant?mechanical use,petroleum?crude oil (sometimes used, but 'petróleo' is more common)

📝 In Action

Necesito un poco de aceite de oliva para la ensalada.

I need a little olive oil for the salad.

El coche necesita un cambio de aceite pronto.

The car needs an oil change soon.

Este aceite corporal huele a lavanda.

This body oil smells like lavender.

Word Connections

Synonyms

grasa (grease/fat)
lubricante (lubricant)

Common Collocations

aceite de oliva – olive oil
aceite de motor – motor oil
cambio de aceite – oil change

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in '-e', 'aceite' is always a masculine word, so you use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el aceite'.

Uncountable Noun

'Aceite' is usually uncountable, like water or sugar. To measure it, you need a container: 'una botella de aceite' (a bottle of oil).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong article

Mistake: "La aceite es saludable."

Correction: El aceite es saludable. (Remember, 'aceite' is masculine: 'el'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Specifying the type

To specify what kind of oil you mean, use 'aceite de...' (oil of...): 'aceite de coco' (coconut oil), 'aceite de girasol' (sunflower oil).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: aceite

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish article must be used with 'aceite'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aceituna(olive) - noun

aceitoso(oily/greasy) - adjective

aceitero(oil cruet/oil maker) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'aceite' always used for food?

No. While it's very common in cooking (aceite de oliva), it is also used for mechanical oil (aceite de motor) and cosmetic oils (aceite corporal). The context usually makes the meaning clear.

How is 'aceite' different from 'grasa'?

Aceite is a liquid, usually poured (oil). Grasa is a solid or semi-solid substance at room temperature, like lard or thick grease. They both refer to fatty substances, but 'aceite' is fluid.