alcohol

noun ahl-koh-OHL Less Common

Origin: From Arabic al-kuhl (the kohl, a fine powder), via medieval alchemy.

Usage Note

Alcohol is stressed on the final syllable (ahl-koh-OHL) — a common mispronunciation trap for English speakers who stress the first. Beyond alcoholic beverages, it also means rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit in medical contexts. The adjective is alcohólico, and alcohólico/a as a noun means an alcoholic person.

Examples

"El médico le prohibió el alcohol."

Natural Translation

The doctor banned him from alcohol.

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