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oral

oh-RAHL/oˈɾal/

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

oral

Also: spoken
Adjectivem or fA2
A friendly person speaking with visible sound waves coming from their mouth to represent spoken communication.

📝 In Action

Mañana tengo un examen oral de español.

A2

Tomorrow I have a spoken Spanish exam.

La historia se transmitió por tradición oral.

B1

The history was passed down through oral tradition.

El testigo dio una declaración oral ante el juez.

B2

The witness gave an oral statement before the judge.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • examen oral – oral exam
  • tradición oral – oral tradition
  • comunicación oral – oral communication

oral

Also: mouth-related
Adjectivem or fB1
A close-up of a smiling mouth showing healthy teeth and lips.

📝 In Action

Una buena higiene oral previene las caries.

A2

Good oral hygiene prevents cavities.

Este medicamento es para administración oral.

B1

This medication is for oral administration (taking by mouth).

El dentista recomendó un enjuague oral.

B1

The dentist recommended an oral rinse.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bucal (relating to the mouth)

Common Collocations

  • higiene oral – oral hygiene
  • vía oral – by mouth (medical route)
  • salud oral – oral health

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "oral" in Spanish:

mouth-related→oral→spoken→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oral

Question 1 of 3

If you have a 'examen oral', what do you have to do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
oralidad(orality / spoken quality) — Noun
oralmente(orally) — Adverb
orador(speaker / orator) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'os, oris', meaning 'mouth'. This root is shared with many English words relating to speaking or the mouth.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: oralFrench: oralPortuguese: oral

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'oral' change if the noun is feminine?

No! Whether you are talking about 'un examen' (masculine) or 'una tradición' (feminine), the word remains 'oral'.

Is 'oral' used the same way as in English?

Yes, it is a very close cognate. It refers to both spoken communication and medical/physical things related to the mouth.

What is the plural of 'oral'?

The plural is 'orales'. For example: 'las pruebas orales' (the oral tests).