rancio
/ˈranθjo/
The English word 'musty' is translated into Spanish as rancio.
rancio is used to describe something that has a stale, old or unfresh odor or taste. It is often used to describe the specific quality of fats and oils that have gone bad.
Meaning: having an odour or taste of mould, (generally) having a stale or unfresh odour or taste (adj)
Which one should you use?
While rancio can be used generally to mean 'musty' in the sense of being stale or old, it is most commonly used to describe the specific smell or taste of fats and oils that have gone rancid. For other types of musty or moldy descriptions, other words are used: mohoso/a or enmohecido/a specifically mean 'moldy', while sofocante is used for a 'stuffy' atmosphere.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective rancio must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to rancia for feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈranθjo/
Did you know?
- While rancio usually indicates something has gone bad, it can be a high compliment for specific aged cheeses or cured meats to indicate a sophisticated flavor.
- Beyond smell and taste, rancio is used figuratively to describe a person with old-fashioned, stubborn or narrow-minded views.
- To describe a room that smells musty because it has not been ventilated, Spanish speakers use the phrase olor a cerrado, which literally means 'smell of closed'.
Examples in context
- El sótano de la casa está húmedo y con olor a cerrado.The basement of the house is musty.
- Esta habitación tiene un olor rancio, deberíamos ventilarla.This room smells musty, we should air it out.
- La ropa vieja que encontré en el armario huele a rancio.The old clothes I found in the closet smell musty.
- No me gusta el olor a cerrado.I don't like the musty smell.
- Hay que ventilar para quitar el olor húmedo.We need to ventilate to eliminate the musty smell.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are checking the pantry.
- JavierElena, ¿puedes oler este queso?Elena, can you smell this cheese?
- ElenaSí, huele muy rancio.Yes, it smells very musty.
- JavierCreo que debemos tirarlo.I think we should throw it away.
- ElenaTienes razón, Javier.You are right, Javier.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rancio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
