petróleo
/peˈtɾoleo/
The Spanish word for petroleum is petróleo.
petróleo refers to the naturally occurring liquid oil found underground that is used to make fuel and other products.
Which one should you use?
While petróleo refers specifically to the crude fossil fuel, you should use aceite when referring to cooking oil or lubricating oil.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈtɾoleo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using petróleo to mean cooking oil. English speakers often make this mistake, but in Spanish, petróleo refers exclusively to fossil fuel (crude oil).
Did you know?
- In some Latin American contexts, the phrase el petróleo can be used metonymically to refer to the state-owned oil company of that country.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the term oro negro or 'black gold' is frequently used in news headlines and economic reports as a poetic synonym for petróleo.
- The word petróleo is a compound of two Latin roots: petra meaning 'rock' and oleum meaning 'oil'.
Examples in context
- Las prospecciones dieron con un yacimiento de petróleo.The prospectors found a petroleum field.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe finding a petróleo field.Tatoeba #2029621 by wallebot, translation #10112021 by shekitten
- Las reservas de petróleo en el país están disminuyendo.The petroleum reserves in the country are decreasing.
- El precio del crudo afecta la economía global.The price of petroleum affects the global economy.
- El precio del petróleo ha subido mucho.The price of petroleum has risen a lot.
- Necesitamos extraer más petróleo de este pozo.We need to extract more petroleum from this well.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing the environment.
- MaríaDebemos usar menos petróleo para proteger el planeta.We should use less petroleum to protect the planet.
- MateoTienes razón, María, pero es difícil ahora.You are right, María, but it is difficult now.
- MaríaExisten alternativas mejores que el petróleo.There are better alternatives than petroleum.
- MateoEstoy de acuerdo contigo, Mateo.I agree with you, Mateo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry petróleo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries petróleo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
