alcohol de fricción
/alkool de fɾiɡθjon/from spelling rules
Rubbing alcohol in Spanish is alcohol de fricción.
This phrase refers to a liquid solution of isopropyl alcohol used for cleaning wounds or disinfecting skin.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of alcohol and the prepositional phrase de fricción, literally meaning alcohol of friction.
Did you know?
- The word alcohol comes from the Arabic word al-kuḥl, which referred to kohl, a fine powder used as eyeliner.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, asking for alcohol in a pharmacy may result in being given ethyl alcohol rather than the isopropyl version used for fricción.
- Depending on the region, you may hear alcohol de curación instead of alcohol de fricción, which shifts the focus from the act of rubbing to the act of healing.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedes traerme alcohol isopropílico para desinfectar esta herida?Can you bring me rubbing alcohol to disinfect this wound?
Example conversation
Alejandro is helping Lucía treat a small scrape on her arm.
- AlejandroDeja que vea tu brazo, Lucía.Let me see your arm, Lucía.
- LucíaMe raspé la piel al caer.I scraped my skin when I fell.
- AlejandroVoy a usar alcohol de fricción para desinfectar.I am going to use rubbing alcohol to disinfect it.
- LucíaGracias, Alejandro, espero que no arda mucho.Thanks, Alejandro, I hope it doesn't sting too much.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alcohol, de, fricción, CC BY-SA 4.0.
