Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE in Spanish: AGUA OXIGENADA

Agua Oxigenada · noun · AH-gwah ohk-see-heh-NAH-dah

In everyday Spanish, hydrogen peroxide is called agua oxigenada—literally oxygenated water. This colloquial name is far more common than the scientific term peróxido de hidrógeno, even in pharmacies. If you walk into any farmacia in Latin America or Spain and ask for agua oxigenada, they will know exactly what you need.

AH-gwah ohk-see-heh-NAH-dah

Limpia la herida con agua oxigenada.

Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

hydrogen peroxide in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for hydrogen peroxide, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

SpanishEnglishPronunciationRegion / Register
agua oxigenadahydrogen peroxideAH-gwah ohk-see-heh-NAH-dahDefault, widely understood
peróxido de hidrógenohydrogen peroxidescientific/technical

How Native Speakers Use Agua Oxigenada

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

First Aid

Pon un poco de agua oxigenada en el algodón y aplícalo.

Put some hydrogen peroxide on the cotton and apply it.

Standard first-aid instruction in Spanish.

Pharmacy Request

¿Tiene agua oxigenada de diez volúmenes?

Do you have ten-volume hydrogen peroxide?

How to ask for it at a pharmacy, specifying concentration.

Hair Treatment

Usó agua oxigenada para aclararse el cabello.

She used hydrogen peroxide to lighten her hair.

Agua oxigenada is also associated with hair bleaching.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Agua Oxigenada

Direct Translation

Incorrect: Necesito hidrógeno peróxido.

Correct: Necesito agua oxigenada.

While peróxido de hidrógeno exists as a scientific term, nobody uses hidrógeno peróxido. The everyday term is agua oxigenada.

Gender of Agua

Incorrect: La agua oxigenada.

Correct: El agua oxigenada.

Although agua is feminine, it takes the masculine article el in singular because it starts with a stressed a sound. However, adjectives remain feminine: oxigenada.

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Common Questions About hydrogen peroxide in Spanish

Why is hydrogen peroxide called oxygenated water in Spanish?
The name agua oxigenada reflects the chemical composition in layman's terms—it is water (H₂O) with an extra oxygen atom (H₂O₂). This descriptive naming convention made the substance accessible to general consumers long before scientific terminology was standardized.
How do I ask for hydrogen peroxide at a Spanish pharmacy?
Simply say ¿Me puede dar agua oxigenada? If you need a specific concentration, add the volume level: agua oxigenada de veinte volúmenes for hair use, or de diez volúmenes for wound cleaning.
Is peróxido de hidrógeno ever used in conversation?
Peróxido de hidrógeno appears primarily in scientific papers, chemistry textbooks, and industrial safety documents. In all other contexts—pharmacies, homes, beauty salons—agua oxigenada is the universal term.