Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| camello | /kaˈmeʝo/ | masculine |
| transa | /ˈtɾansa/ | Argentina, by personal gender, feminine, masculine |
| díler | /dileɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Spain, feminine, masculine |
| dealer | /ˈdileɾ/ | feminine, masculine |
The terms used to describe a person who illegally sells drugs vary significantly depending on the level of formality and the region.
What does it mean word for word?
The term camello literally means 'camel'.
Which one should you use?
camello is a colloquial slang term, while dealer is an informal English loanword. In Spain, the adaptation díler is also commonly used. In Argentina, the term transa is preferred.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or legal contexts, you should use narcotraficante or traficante de drogas. In contrast, camello is considered slang and should not be used in formal settings. The loanwords dealer and díler are used in informal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, camello is an informal and colloquial term and díler is a common adaptation of the English word. In Argentina, the common term for a drug dealer is transa.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term díler can be used to refer to either a male or a female by changing the article, such as la díler for a female drug dealer.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˈmeʝo/
Did you know?
- The slang term camello refers to the way early 20th-century dealers hid drugs on their backs. Some even used cardboard or tin to create fake humps to mimic a camel's shape.
- The term transa is versatile because it can refer to the person selling drugs or the 'shady deal' itself.
- The term díler is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'dealer' specifically adjusted to fit Spanish spelling and pronunciation rules.
Examples in context
- Tom no quería que sus amigos supieran que era camello.Tom didn't want any of his friends to know that he was a drug dealer.This sentence shows the use of camello in a personal context.Tatoeba #1271504 by Silvestre, translation #1094625 by CK
- Las autoridades detuvieron a un peligroso narcotraficanteThe authorities arrested a dangerous drug dealer
- La policía desmanteló una red de traficantes de drogasThe police dismantled a drug trafficking network
- Mi amigo conoce a un dealer que siempre tiene marihuanaMy friend knows a dealer who always has marijuana
- Ten cuidado con ese camello, es peligrosoBe careful with that drug dealer, he's dangerous
- El camello vendía de todo en el barrio.The drug dealer sold everything in the neighborhood.
- Ese camello es muy peligroso.That drug dealer is very dangerous.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are walking through a dangerous neighborhood.
- ElenaTen cuidado, hay un camello allí.Be careful, there is a drug dealer over there.
- DanielLo veo, vamos por la otra calle.I see him, let's go down the other street.
- Elena¿Crees que ese camello sea peligroso?Do you think that drug dealer is dangerous?
- DanielNo lo sé, pero mejor evitemos el problema.I don't know, but it's better if we avoid the trouble.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drug dealer” translations and entries camello, transa, dealer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camello, dealer, transa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
