Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| de oro | /de oɾo/ (from spelling rules) |
| áureo | /ˈauɾeo/ |
| áurico | /ˈauɾiko/ |
| aurífero | /auˈɾifeɾo/ |
In Spanish, the way you say 'gold' depends on whether you are describing a physical material, a poetic quality, a scientific property or a geological feature. Use de oro to indicate that an object is physically made of the metal. For example, you can use oro puro to mean 'pure gold', which is also used informally to describe something of very high quality or value. The phrase oro líquido (liquid gold) is a common way to describe olive oil. Use áureo for metaphorical or poetic 'golden' qualities. Use áurico in specialized scientific or chemical contexts to refer to gold-related compounds, and use aurífero as a technical term in geology or mining to describe something that contains or produces gold, such as a gold-bearing vein.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase de oro literally means 'of gold'.
Which one should you use?
de oro is used for physical objects made of gold. In contrast, áureo is reserved for more poetic or metaphorical descriptions, such as a 'golden age'. aurífero is a technical term used specifically to mean 'gold-bearing' or 'gold-producing' in a geological sense, while áurico is a specialized adjective for chemistry and science.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
áureo is a formal or literary term, and aurífero and áurico are formal technical terms used in specific professional fields like mining or chemistry.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/de oɾo/
Did you know?
- The phrase oro líquido is so deeply tied to Mediterranean culture that it is a standard way to refer to olive oil.
- The Spanish word for 'gold' is etymologically related to the concept of 'glowing', tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to shine.
- The term aurífero combines the root for gold with a root meaning 'to carry', mirroring the structure of the English word 'coniferous'.
Examples in context
- ¿Es de oro puro?Is that pure gold?This example shows how to ask if an object is made of pure gold using de oro.Tatoeba #1075247 by hayastan, translation #442974 by CK
- Tiene corazón de oro.He has a heart of gold.This example uses de oro to describe a figurative heart of gold.Tatoeba #11871099 by JSKabylie15, translation #2217665 by Hybrid
- Le di un reloj de oro.I gave him a gold watch.This example uses de oro to describe a physical gold watch.Tatoeba #455048 by Shishir, translation #260374 by CK
- Llevaba un collar hecho de oro.She wore a necklace made of gold.
- Los precios del oro han subido como la espuma este año.Gold prices have skyrocketed this year.
- Mis abuelos tienen un aniversario de bodas de oro.My grandparents have a golden wedding anniversary.
- Sus palabras valían su peso en oro.His words were worth their weight in gold.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- MateoMira este anillo de oro.Look at this gold ring.
- ElenaEs muy bonito, pero es caro.It is very pretty, but it is expensive.
- MateoPrefiero comprar algo de oro.I prefer to buy something made of gold.
- ElenaYo prefiero la plata, Mateo.I prefer silver, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gold” translations and entries áureo, áurico, aurífero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aurífero, de, oro, áureo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
