Abstract: Disclosed is the use of an alkoxylated fatty alcohol of formula (I), RO—(CH2—CHR?—O)n—(CH2CH2—O)m—H, wherein R stands for a saturated and/or unsaturated alkyl moiety containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R? is methyl, ethyl or propyl, m represents a number of 1 to 12, preferably 4 to 10, and n represents a number of 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 8, as an emulsifier in metalworking fluids which also contain at least water and one oil component, non-miscible with water, and, optionally, further ingredients, and where the fatty alcohol which forms the R moiety has a iodine value of 15 to 75 g I2/100 g.