aceite de ricino
/aˌθeite de riˈθino/masculine
The English phrase "castor oil" is translated into Spanish as aceite de ricino.
aceite de ricino is used to refer to the vegetable oil extracted from the castor plant.
Meaning: vegetable oil (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aceite (oil), de (of) and ricino (castor plant).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Puerto Rico, castor oil is commonly known as aceite de mamón.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun aceite is masculine, so any accompanying adjectives must also be masculine (for example, aceite de ricino puro).
How do you pronounce it?
/aˌθeite de riˈθino/
Did you know?
- The word aceite traces its lineage back to the Arabic word az-zayt, a linguistic footprint left by the historical presence of Arabic speakers in the Iberian Peninsula.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, aceite de ricino is associated with traditional folk medicine for treating joint pain and inflammation.
- The use of aceite de mamón in Puerto Rico is distinct because mamón usually refers to a completely different fruit, the Spanish lime.
Examples in context
- Mi abuela ha utilizado aceite de ricino durante años para mantener su piel hidratada.My grandmother has been using castor oil for years to keep her skin hydrated.
- El aceite de ricino es muy espeso.Castor oil is very thick.
- Necesito comprar un poco de aceite de ricino.I need to buy some castor oil.
- ¿Para qué sirve el aceite de ricino?What is castor oil used for?
Example conversation
In a natural products shop.
- MateoHola, ¿tienes aceite de ricino?Hello, do you have castor oil?
- ElenaSí, lo tenemos en aquel estante.Yes, we have it on that shelf.
- MateoPerfecto, voy a buscarlo.Perfect, I'm going to look for it.
- ElenaMuy bien, avísame si necesitas algo más.Very well, let me know if you need anything else.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “castor oil” translations and entries aceite de ricino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aceite, de, ricino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
