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olor

oh-LOHR/oˈlor/

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

smell, odor

Also: scent
NounmA1
A close-up illustration of a pink rose emitting visible wavy scent lines that curve upwards, representing the sensation of smell.

📝 In Action

¡Qué buen olor tiene este café!

A1

What a great smell this coffee has!

El olor a gasolina me da dolor de cabeza.

A2

The smell of gasoline gives me a headache.

Ese olor extraño viene de la cocina.

A2

That strange odor is coming from the kitchen.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aroma (aroma (usually pleasant))
  • fragancia (fragrance)

Antonyms

  • hedor (stench)
  • peste (foul smell/plague)

Common Collocations

  • tener olor a – to smell like
  • un olor fuerte – a strong smell

hint, trace

Also: reputation
NounmB2formal
An illustration showing a single, tiny, golden feather resting alone on the floor in the far corner of a large, empty, pale blue room, symbolizing a subtle trace or hint.

📝 In Action

Había olor a traición en su discurso.

B2

There was a hint of betrayal in his speech.

Esa empresa siempre ha tenido olor a corrupción.

C1

That company has always had a trace of corruption (a bad reputation for corruption).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • indicio (sign/indication)
  • rastro (trace)

Common Collocations

  • oler a – to hint at/to suggest

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedarse con el olor – To be left with nothing; to miss out completely.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "olor" in Spanish:

hint→odor→reputation→scent→smell→trace→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: olor

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'olor' in its figurative sense (a trace or hint)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
oler(to smell (verb)) — Verb
olfato(sense of smell) — Noun
olores(smells (plural)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'olor' comes directly from the Latin word *odor*, which meant 'a smell' or 'a perfume'. It is a very ancient word related to the act of perceiving scents.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: odorePortuguese: odor

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'olor' masculine or feminine?

'Olor' is masculine. You must use 'el olor' or 'un olor', never 'la olor', even though it ends in a consonant.

What is the difference between 'olor' and 'aroma'?

Both mean 'smell,' but 'aroma' is almost always reserved for pleasant, natural, or appetizing smells (like coffee or flowers). 'Olor' is more general and can be neutral or bad.