petróleo
“petróleo” means “oil” in Spanish (crude oil, fossil fuel).
oil, petroleum
Also: gas
📝 In Action
El precio del petróleo subió esta semana.
B2The price of oil went up this week.
Venezuela es un país rico en petróleo.
B1Venezuela is a country rich in petroleum.
Necesitamos buscar alternativas al petróleo para proteger el planeta.
C1We need to look for alternatives to oil to protect the planet.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: petróleo
Question 1 of 2
Which article must you use before 'petróleo'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from Medieval Latin *petroleum*, which is literally a combination of two older Latin words: *petra* (meaning 'rock' or 'stone') and *oleum* (meaning 'oil'). So, it literally means 'rock oil'!
First recorded: 13th century (in Latin form)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'petróleo' the same as 'gas'?
In Spanish, 'petróleo' refers specifically to the crude oil extracted from the ground. The refined fuel used for cars is usually called 'gasolina' (gasoline) or 'gas' (natural gas) if you are referring to the gaseous fuel.