droga
/ˈdɾoɡa/feminine
The English word "drug" can be translated into Spanish as droga. Wiktionary also lists narcótico.
Meaning: psychoactive substance ingested for recreational use, especially illegal and addictive one (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| droga | /ˈdɾoɡa/ | feminine |
| narcótico | /naɾˈkotiko/ | masculine |
The term refers to a psychoactive substance ingested for recreational use, particularly those that are illegal or addictive. When discussing the medical or scientific aspects of drugs, such as pharmaceutical drugs or medications, use the formal terms medicamento or fármaco.
Which one should you use?
droga is a feminine noun, while narcótico is a masculine noun.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb forms change meaning based on whether they are reflexive. The transitive verb drogar means to administer a drug to someone else, often without their consent. To express the habit of using drugs or the state of being under the influence, use the reflexive forms such as drogarse, endrogarse or pichicatearse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdɾoɡa/
Did you know?
- In Spain, a drogería is not a pharmacy or a place to buy illegal drugs, but a shop that sells household cleaning products, paints and chemicals.
- The Spanish word droga actually shares a root with the English word 'dry'. It comes from the Middle Dutch word droge, referring to the way early medicinal herbs were dried for preservation.
- In Spanish, the word droga is used in the expression una droga to describe any intense passion or obsession, even if the substance is not chemical.
Examples in context
- Es como una droga.It's like a drug.This sentence uses the form droga to make a comparison.Tatoeba #1832101 by Shishir, translation #1829548 by Spamster
- Tu hija es drogadicta.Your daughter is a drug addict.This sentence uses the form droga as part of the word for a drug addict.Tatoeba #5138369 by don_ramon, translation #5165281 by tabular
- Dicen que esa droga no es segura.They say that that drug is not safe.This sentence uses the form droga to discuss the safety of a substance.Tatoeba #649865 by Shishir, translation #646853 by CK
- El médico me recetó un medicamento para la fiebre.The doctor prescribed me a medication for fever.
- Los fármacos son productos químicos utilizados para el tratamiento de enfermedades.Pharmaceutical drugs are chemical substances used for the treatment of diseases.
- En mi opinión, las drogas son un problema serio en nuestra sociedad.In my opinion, drugs are a serious problem in our society.
- Hace mucho frío afuera, voy a fumarme un porro.It's very cold outside, I'm going to smoke a joint.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a news report about crime.
- ElenaEsa droga es muy peligrosa.That drug is very dangerous.
- AlejandroSí, la policía la confiscó ayer.Yes, the police confiscated it yesterday.
- ElenaEs un problema muy serio.It is a very serious problem.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Elena.You are right, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drug” translations and entries droga, narcótico, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries droga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
