Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rancio | /ˈranθjo/ /ˈransjo/ |
|
| revenido | /rebeˈnido/ | |
| pasado | /paˈsado/ | |
| (para) nada fresco/hodierno | ||
| acorchado | /akoɾˈt͡ʃado/ | soft |
In Spanish, the term used for 'stale' depends heavily on what is losing its freshness. For food that has gone bad due to oxidation, such as nuts, oils or fats, use rancio. This word can also be used metaphorically to describe people or ideas that are stale, old-fashioned or out of touch. If you are describing food that lacks flavor or has become bland, you may use soso. To describe a piece of food that is no longer fresh in a general sense, you might also use (para) nada fresco/hodierno. When referring to a noun representing a stale object, such as a stale loaf of bread, you can use nouns like mendrugo, sequete or rosigón.
Which one should you use?
Choose your word based on the specific type of staleness: use rancio for fats, oils or nuts that have oxidized. Use acorchado specifically for wine that has become stale or tainted due to contact with a faulty cork. And use pasado as a casual way to express that something is stale. While rancio refers to the quality of the food, nouns like mendrugo, sequete and rosigón are used to refer to the stale item itself, such as a stale piece of bread.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective rancio must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. For example, it becomes rancia when modifying a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of rancio is /ˈranθjo/.
Did you know?
- While rancio means 'stale' for oils and nuts, it is also used as a slang term in Spain to describe someone who is socially awkward, 'cringey' or outdated.
- The Spanish word rancio shares its direct ancestor with the English word 'rancid', coming from the Latin rancidus.
- While 'stale' is usually an adjective, Spanish provides specific nouns like mendrugo to name the actual stale object itself.
Examples in context
- Ese es el típico cuñado rancio y casposo.He's your typical stale, cringey know-it-all.This sentence uses rancio to describe a person who is stale and cringey.Tatoeba #13484871 by Seael, translation #13936586 by deniko
- Durante un viaje a las montañas, masticaba un trozo de pan duro y rancio, cuando me encontré con una enorme serpiente.While on a mountain trip, I was chewing on some hard, stale bread when I happened upon a huge snake.This sentence uses rancio to describe bread that is hard and stale.Tatoeba #1133009 by nancy, translation #327452 by papabear
- El pan está rancio, así que mejor no lo comas.The bread is stale, so it's better not to eat it.
- Este aceite tiene un sabor rancio.This oil has a stale taste.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are checking the food in the pantry.
- DanielLucía, ¿puedes probar este mantequilla?Lucía, can you taste this butter?
- LucíaNo gracias, huele a rancio.No thanks, it smells stale.
- DanielTienes razón, hay que tirarla.You are right, we have to throw it away.
- LucíaCompraré una nueva mañana.I will buy a new one tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stale” translations and entries rancio, revenido, pasado, acorchado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acorchado, pasado, rancio, revenido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
