Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Olive Oil in Spanish: Aceite de Oliva
Aceite de oliva · noun (masculine) · ah-SAY-teh deh oh-LEE-bah
Olive oil in Spanish is aceite de oliva. The word aceite (oil) comes from Arabic (az-zayt), reflecting the Moorish influence on Spanish food culture. Spain is the world's largest olive oil producer, and aceite de oliva virgen extra (extra virgin olive oil, abbreviated AOVE) is a point of national pride.
ah-SAY-teh deh oh-LEE-bah — aceite has stress on the second syllable (cei), and oliva has stress on the second syllable (li). The v in oliva is pronounced like a soft b.
Aliña la ensalada con aceite de oliva y limón.
Dress the salad with olive oil and lemon.
Olive Oil in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for olive oil, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| aceite de oliva | olive oil | ah-SAY-teh deh oh-LEE-bah | Default, widely understood |
| aceite de oliva virgen extra | olive oil | extra virgin olive oil | |
| AOVE | olive oil | abbreviation used in Spain |
How Native Speakers Use Aceite de oliva
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Cooking instruction
Calienta dos cucharadas de aceite de oliva en la sartén.
Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in the pan.
Aceite de oliva is a daily kitchen staple in Spanish-speaking households.
Specifying grade
Solo uso aceite de oliva virgen extra para cocinar.
I only use extra virgin olive oil for cooking.
Virgen extra is the highest quality designation, equivalent to EVOO in English.
At a restaurant
¿Me puede traer pan con aceite, por favor?
Can you bring me bread with (olive) oil, please?
In Spain, pan con aceite (bread with olive oil) is a standard appetizer; aceite alone is understood as olive oil.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Aceite de oliva
Saying oliva aceite (wrong word order)
Incorrect: Ponle oliva aceite a la pasta.
Correct: Ponle aceite de oliva a la pasta.
In Spanish, the noun (aceite) comes first, followed by de + qualifier (oliva). The structure mirrors oil of olive.
Using óleo for cooking oil
Incorrect: Freí el pescado en óleo de oliva.
Correct: Freí el pescado en aceite de oliva.
Óleo means oil only in artistic contexts (oil painting = pintura al óleo). For cooking and food, the word is always aceite.
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See Aceite de oliva used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Olive Oil in Spanish
- How do you say olive oil in Spanish?
- Olive oil is aceite de oliva. Extra virgin olive oil is aceite de oliva virgen extra (AOVE). In Spain, just saying aceite often implies olive oil.
- Why does aceite come from Arabic?
- Aceite derives from the Arabic az-zayt (the oil). The Moors brought extensive olive cultivation to the Iberian Peninsula during their 700-year presence, and the Arabic term replaced the Latin oleum in everyday use.
- What is AOVE?
- AOVE stands for Aceite de Oliva Virgen Extra — the Spanish abbreviation for extra virgin olive oil. It is widely used on labels and in food media in Spain.