Inklingo

How to Say "oil" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aceite

ah-SAY-tehaˈsejte

nounA1general
Use 'aceite' for cooking oils like olive or sunflower oil, or for general liquid substances like motor oil or baby oil.
A clear glass bottle filled with golden cooking oil, sitting next to a small ceramic bowl on a wooden counter.

Examples

Necesito un poco de aceite de oliva para la ensalada.

I need a little olive oil for the salad.

El coche necesita un cambio de aceite pronto.

The car needs an oil change soon.

Este aceite corporal huele a lavanda.

This body oil smells like lavender.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in '-e', 'aceite' is always a masculine word, so you use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el aceite'.

Uncountable Noun

'Aceite' is usually uncountable, like water or sugar. To measure it, you need a container: 'una botella de aceite' (a bottle of oil).

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “La aceite es saludable.”

Correction: El aceite es saludable. (Remember, 'aceite' is masculine: 'el'.)

petróleo

nounB2general
Use 'petróleo' specifically for crude oil, the unrefined fossil fuel extracted from the ground.

Examples

El precio del petróleo subió esta semana.

The price of oil went up this week.

grasa

grah-sahˈɡɾasa

nounA2general
Use 'grasa' for thick, heavy, oily substances, often referring to grease or animal fat.
A simple, shiny, dark gray metal wrench covered in a thick, black, viscous glob of industrial automotive grease.

Examples

Hay que limpiar la grasa que se acumuló en el motor.

We have to clean the grease that accumulated on the engine.

El mecánico aplicó más grasa al eje para que no chirriara.

The mechanic applied more grease to the axle so it wouldn't squeak.

petrolero

peh-tro-LEH-rope.tɾo.ˈle.ɾo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'petrolero' as an adjective to describe something related to petroleum or the oil industry, like an oil tanker or an oil crisis.
A large industrial oil derrick standing in a desert landscape.

Examples

La crisis petrolera afectó a todo el mundo.

The oil crisis affected everyone.

Viven cerca de un pozo petrolero.

They live near an oil well.

La empresa petrolera anunció nuevas inversiones.

The oil company announced new investments.

Matching the word it describes

Since this is an adjective, it must change to 'petrolera' if the thing it describes is a feminine ('girl') word, like 'industria' or 'empresa'.

Don't forget the 'a'

Mistake: “La compañía petrolero.”

Correction: La compañía petrolera.

Aceite vs. Petróleo

Learners often confuse 'aceite' and 'petróleo'. Remember that 'aceite' is for edible oils and general liquid lubricants, while 'petróleo' specifically means crude oil, the raw fossil fuel.

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