Inklingo

How to Say "smell" in Spanish

English → Spanish

olor

oh-LOHRoˈlor

nounA1general
Use 'olor' to refer to the general sensation or scent that your nose detects, like a pleasant fragrance or an unpleasant odor.
A close-up illustration of a pink rose emitting visible wavy scent lines that curve upwards, representing the sensation of smell.

Examples

Este perfume tiene un olor delicioso.

This perfume has a delicious smell.

¡Qué buen olor tiene este café!

What a great smell this coffee has!

El olor a gasolina me da dolor de cabeza.

The smell of gasoline gives me a headache.

Ese olor extraño viene de la cocina.

That strange odor is coming from the kitchen.

Masculine Noun

Even though it ends in -r, 'olor' is always masculine: 'el olor', 'un olor'.

Describing Smells

To say something 'smells like' something else, use 'tener olor a...': 'La casa tiene olor a flores' (The house smells like flowers).

Using 'La' instead of 'El'

Mistake: “La olor es horrible.”

Correction: El olor es horrible. ('Olor' is masculine, even though it ends in 'r'.)

olfato

ohl-FAH-toholˈfato

nounA2general
Use 'olfato' when talking about the biological sense of smell itself, the physical ability to perceive scents.
A friendly dog sniffing a vibrant red flower in a garden.

Examples

Los perros tienen un olfato muy desarrollado.

Dogs have a very highly developed sense of smell.

Perdí el olfato durante una semana por el resfriado.

I lost my sense of smell for a week because of the cold.

El olfato es uno de los cinco sentidos básicos.

The sense of smell is one of the five basic senses.

Olfato vs. Olor

Use 'olfato' for the ability to smell. Use 'olor' for the actual scent coming off an object.

Always Masculine

This word is always masculine ('el olfato'), even though it ends in 'o' which is typical for masculine nouns.

Using it for a scent

Mistake: “Ese perfume tiene un olfato rico.”

Correction: Ese perfume tiene un olor rico. (You smell with your 'olfato', but a flower has an 'olor').

rastro

RRAH-strohˈras.tɾo

nounB1general
Use 'rastro' to describe a strong, lingering odor or scent trail that can be followed, often used in contexts like tracking.
A cartoon bloodhound with its nose to the ground, intently sniffing an invisible winding scent trail over green grass.

Examples

El perro siguió el rastro de su dueño.

The dog followed its owner's scent trail.

El perro olfateó el rastro del conejo.

The dog sniffed the rabbit's scent.

Aún queda un rastro de humo en la habitación.

There is still a trace/smell of smoke left in the room.

Olor vs. Olfato

Learners often confuse 'olor' and 'olfato'. Remember that 'olor' is the scent itself, while 'olfato' is the sense of smelling. You can have a good 'olfato' and perceive a pleasant 'olor'.

Related Translations

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