benzo
/benθo/from spelling rules
benzo is the Spanish slang term for a benzodiazepine medication, typically used to treat anxiety or insomnia.
This is a slang term used to refer to benzodiazepine drugs.
How do you pronounce it?
/benθo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish slang circles, a benzo is jokingly called a pastilla de la felicidad or 'happiness pill', despite the drug's actual function being an anxiolytic rather than an antidepressant.
- In certain social circles, benzo is treated as a feminine noun, often referred to as la benzo, because it is perceived as an abbreviation of la benzodiacepina.
- The word benzo is a truncated form of benzodiacepina, a linguistic process called apocope that is common in Spanish slang to create shorter, punchier words.
Examples in context
- Mi amiga está tomando benzos para dormir mejor.My friend is taking benzos to sleep better.
- No quiero tomar un benzo para la ansiedad.I don't want to take a benzo for anxiety.
- ¿Te dieron un benzo para el estrés?Did they give you a benzo for stress?
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about stress at home.
- SofíaNo puedo dejar de pensar en el trabajo.I can't stop thinking about work.
- Alejandro¿Te tomaron el benzo que te dieron?Did you take the benzo they gave you?
- SofíaSí, pero todavía me siento muy nerviosa.Yes, but I still feel very nervous.
- AlejandroTarda un poco en hacer efecto, Sofía.It takes a little while to work, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
