AbstractWe conducted spectroscopic and photometric observations of the optical companion of the X-ray transient RX J0117·6–7330 in the Small Magellanic Cloud, during a quiescent state. The primary star is identified as a B0·5 IIIe with a mass M_* = (18 ± 2)M⨀ and bolometric magnitude M_bol = –7·4 ± 0·2. The main spectral features are strong Hα emission, Hβ and Hγ emission cores with absorption wings, and narrow He I and O II absorption lines. Equivalent widths and full widths at half maximum of the main lines are listed. The average systemic velocity over our observing run is v_r = (184 ± 4) km s⁻¹; measurements over a longer period of time are needed to determine the binary period and the K velocity of the primary. We determine a projected rotational velocity v sin i = (145 ± 10) km s⁻¹ for the Be star; if we assume a true rotational velocity at the equator v = (400 ± 50) km s⁻¹, we deduce that the inclination angle of the system is i = (21 ± 3) deg.