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alcohol

ahl-KOHL/alˈkol/

“alcohol” means “alcohol” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

alcohol

Also: spirit
NounmA2
A simple, clear glass bottle with a white cap, containing a transparent liquid, representing rubbing alcohol or a generic chemical substance.

📝 In Action

Necesitas alcohol para desinfectar esa pequeña herida.

A2

You need alcohol to disinfect that small wound.

Llevo siempre un poco de alcohol en gel en mi bolso.

A2

I always carry a little hand sanitizer in my bag.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • alcohol en gel – hand sanitizer
  • alcohol isopropílico – isopropyl alcohol

alcohol

Also: liquor
NounmA1
A simple lowball glass filled with an amber liquid and a single large ice cube, representing an alcoholic beverage.

📝 In Action

No sirvieron alcohol en la fiesta, solo refrescos.

A1

They didn't serve alcohol at the party, only sodas.

Debes tener 18 años para comprar alcohol legalmente.

A1

You must be 18 years old to legally buy alcohol.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bebida alcohólica (alcoholic drink)
  • licor (liquor)

Common Collocations

  • abuso de alcohol – alcohol abuse
  • alto contenido de alcohol – high alcohol content

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "alcohol" in Spanish:

alcohol→liquor→spirit→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: alcohol

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'alcohol' in the sense of a strong drink?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
alcohólico(alcoholic (adjective/person)) — Adjective
alcoholismo(alcoholism) — Noun
alcoholizar(to alcoholize/to intoxicate) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

This word comes from Arabic, specifically 'al-kuhl,' which originally referred to a finely powdered cosmetic (like eyeliner). Over time, it was used to describe any highly refined substance, eventually leading to the distilled 'spirit' we know today.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (via Latin adaptations of Arabic terms)

Cognates (Related words)

English: alcoholFrench: alcool

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'alcohol' masculino o femenino?

Es masculino. Siempre decimos 'el alcohol' o 'un alcohol', aunque es mucho más común usarlo sin el artículo: 'No tomo alcohol'.

How do I say 'alcoholic' (the person) in Spanish?

You use the related word 'alcohólico' (masculine) or 'alcohólica' (feminine). For example, 'Es un alcohólico' (He is an alcoholic).