aceite vegetal
/aˌθeite bexeˈtal/masculine
The English phrase "vegetable oil" is translated into Spanish as aceite vegetal.
Aceite vegetal refers to oil produced from plants.
Meaning: oil produced from plants (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aceite (oil) and vegetal (vegetable/plant-based).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun aceite is masculine, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the masculine form. To express the plural "vegetable oils", both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in aceites vegetales.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˌθeite bexeˈtal/
Did you know?
- The word aceite comes from the Arabic 'az-zayt', which shares the same root as the Hebrew word for 'olive'.
- In Spain, olive oil is so culturally central that the word aceite almost always implies olive oil unless vegetal or girasol is specified.
- In some Latin American countries, people might use the word manteca for various plant-based fats, which can cause confusion since it usually means 'lard'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría pasarme el aceite vegetal, por favor?Could you pass me the vegetable oil, please?
- Necesito comprar aceite vegetal para cocinar.I need to buy vegetable oil for cooking.
- Necesito comprar aceite vegetal.I need to buy vegetable oil.
- El aceite vegetal es mejor para cocinar.Vegetable oil is better for cooking.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are preparing a meal in the kitchen.
- MaríaMateo, ¿dónde está el aceite vegetal?Mateo, where is the vegetable oil?
- MateoEstá en el armario, junto a la sal.It is in the cupboard, next to the salt.
- MaríaNo veo ninguna botella de aceite vegetal aquí.I don't see any bottle of vegetable oil here.
- MateoTienes razón, creo que se terminó.You are right, I think it ran out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vegetable oil” translations and entries aceite vegetal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aceite, vegetal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
