Spanish Conversation · Level 130
60 words
Spanish word
oler
Pronunciation
IPA/oˈleɾ/
Meaning
- verbsmell
Example
Esta camisa huele bien.
This shirt smells good.
More examples
Al encender la estufa, empezó a oler a gas.
When the stove was turned on, it began to smell of gas.
Core concept
A nose detecting a scent.
Common phrases
oler a gas
smell of gas
oler a humedad
smell of dampness
oler bien
smell good
Similar words
olfatear: Sniffs repeatedly to explore or investigate an odor.
apestar: Gives off a strong, unpleasant smell.
olerse: Senses or suspects something likely, using a smell as a clue.
Definition in Spanish
Se usa para percibir olores con la nariz y, en sentido figurado, para decir que algo parece tener cierta característica, como en «huele a problema».
Word origin
From Latin olēre 'to smell', Spanish oler originally means to perceive or emit odor and later extends figuratively to mean 'seem to have' a quality.
Usage tips
- 'Huele a' + noun means 'it smells like' and is often used figuratively to suggest suspicion or a likely explanation rather than a firm statement.