petrol and Spanish petróleo

PÉ-trol

In English

petrol

gasoline

In Spanish

petróleo

combustible sin refinar

Spanish "petróleo" means: crude oil

Why they get mixed up Spanish "petróleo" is the crude oil extracted from underground. English "petrol" (mainly British usage) is the refined fuel for vehicles. Crude oil in English is "crude oil" or "petroleum."

If you want to say...

petrolgasolina
gasgasolina (EE. UU.)
oilpetróleo

Examples

We need to stop for petrol.
Tenemos que parar por gasolina.
Petrol prices went up.
El precio de la gasolina subió.
Petrol is cheaper in the next town.
La gasolina es más barata en el próximo pueblo.
I filled the tank with petrol.
Llené el tanque con gasolina.

Common mistakes in Spanish

Incorrect: ~~Llené el coche de petróleo.~~

Correct: Llené el coche de gasolina.

Petróleo is crude oil. For car fuel, use gasolina.

Incorrect: ~~Se me acabó el petróleo en la carretera.~~

Correct: Se me acabó la gasolina en la carretera.

Use gasolina for the fuel of a car.

Phrases you will hear

a petrol stationuna gasolinera
petrol pricesprecios de la gasolina
run out of petrolquedarse sin gasolina
a petrol tankun tanque de gasolina
crude oilpetróleo crudo
gasgasolina (EE. UU.)

In a conversation

A:
We need to stop for petrol.
Tenemos que parar por gasolina.
B:
There's a petrol station ahead.
Hay una gasolinera adelante.
A:
How much is a liter?
¿Cuánto cuesta el litro?
B:
Prices went up again. Crude oil is expensive.
Los precios subieron otra vez. El petróleo crudo está caro.

Test yourself

"A petrol station" is...

To remember it

Petrol = gasoline. Crude oil (Spanish "petróleo") = crude oil.

Frequently asked questions

What does Spanish "petróleo" mean?

Spanish "petróleo" means "crude oil". It looks like the English "petrol", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "petrol" means "gasoline".

Does English "petrol" mean the same as Spanish "petróleo"?

Spanish "petróleo" is the crude oil extracted from underground. English "petrol" (mainly British usage) is the refined fuel for vehicles. Crude oil in English is "crude oil" or "petroleum."