A simple illustration showing thick, black crude oil flowing out of a metal pipe and pooling slightly on dry brown earth, representing fossil fuel.

petróleo

peh-TROH-leho

NounmB2

oil?crude oil, fossil fuel,petroleum?technical term for the raw substance

Also:gas?in the context of being a fuel source (less common than 'gasolina')

📝 In Action

El precio del petróleo subió esta semana.

The price of oil went up this week.

Venezuela es un país rico en petróleo.

Venezuela is a country rich in petroleum.

Necesitamos buscar alternativas al petróleo para proteger el planeta.

We need to look for alternatives to oil to protect the planet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

crudo (crude oil)
combustible (fuel)

Common Collocations

pozo de petróleo – oil well
industria petrolera – oil industry
petróleo crudo – crude oil

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Remember that 'petróleo' is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el petróleo'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Petróleo' and 'Gasolina'

Mistake: "Using 'petróleo' when you mean 'gasolina' (gas/petrol for cars)."

Correction: Petróleo is the raw resource; 'gasolina' or 'nafta' is the refined fuel you put in your car.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about resources

When discussing global politics or economics, 'petróleo' is the standard term for the essential fossil fuel.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: petróleo

Question 1 of 2

Which article must you use before 'petróleo'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

petrolero(oil (adj.), oil tanker (noun)) - adjective/noun

gasolina(gasoline, petrol) - noun

oleoducto(pipeline) - noun

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.