trafic
/tʁa.fik/
In French, the English phrase 'dealing' (referring to the illegal sale of drugs) is translated as trafic.
The word trafic specifically refers to the illegal buying and selling of drugs. When specifying the substance involved, you typically use the preposition de, such as in trafic de drogue (drug dealing). While trafic describes the activity itself, the word trafiquant is the noun used to describe the person who is a dealer or trafficker.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the province of Quebec, the expression faire affaire avec is used to convey the idea of doing business or dealing with someone.
How do you pronounce it?
The word trafic is pronounced /tʁa.fik/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, the word trafiquer can be used informally to describe 'rigging' or 'tampering' with a mechanical object or a set of results to cheat.
- The word trafic shares the same origin as the English word 'traffic', which originally referred to the act of trading or commerce before it became associated with vehicles.
- The word trafic can be used to describe the illegal trade of things other than drugs, such as trafic d'influence for the selling of political favors.
Examples in context
- Sami et Layla ont été arrêtés pour trafic de cocaïne.Sami and Layla were arrested for dealing cocaine.This sentence is useful for seeing how trafic is used in a sentence regarding an arrest.Tatoeba #6378453 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #6378414 by OsoHombre
- Elle doit gérer les affaires financières de l'entreprise.She has to deal with the financial matters of the company.
- Je dois m'occuper des tâches administratives aujourd'hui.I have to deal with the administrative tasks today.
- Elle sait toujours se débrouiller avec les problèmes logistiques.She always knows how to deal with logistical problems.
- Notre entreprise fait souvent affaire avec des clients internationaux.Our company often deals with international clients.
- La police lutte contre le trafic de drogue.The police are fighting against drug dealing.
- Ce quartier est marqué par le trafic de stupéfiants.This neighborhood is marked by drug dealing.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a news report on the television.
- LéaIl y a de plus en plus de trafic dans la ville.There is more and more drug dealing in the city.
- NathanC'est vrai, c'est très inquiétant.It's true, it's very worrying.
- LéaEst-ce que tu as vu le reportage ?Did you see the report?
- NathanNon, je ne l'ai pas vu, Léa.No, I didn't see it, Léa.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry trafic, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries trafic, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
