capo de la droga
/kapo de la dɾoɡa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "drug lord" translates to Spanish as capo de la droga.
Capo de la droga refers to a person who leads and controls a large organization that sells illegal drugs.
Which one should you use?
While capo de la droga is a standard way to describe a drug lord, you may encounter other terms depending on the specific nuance. Barón de la droga is used to mean "drug baron," and Narcotraficante is used to mean "drug trafficker."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Capo de la droga is a formal phrase used when discussing individuals in charge of a drug operation. For more formal contexts, you can use Narcotraficante (drug trafficker) or Barón de la droga (drug baron). In informal or journalistic settings, the single word capo is commonly used to refer to a crime boss or leader.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural "drug lords," add an -s to the first word to get capos de la droga.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the word capo has evolved into a slang term for 'expert' or 'someone very skilled' at a specific task.
- The word capo is a direct loanword from Italian. It reflects the influence of the Italian Mafia's organizational structure on how Spanish speakers describe organized crime.
- In many Spanish speaking countries, the term narco is used as a prefix to describe an entire culture or social class, such as narco-estética for the specific luxury style associated with drug lords.
Examples in context
- El capo de la droga huyó del país.The drug lord fled the country.
- La policía busca al capo de la droga.The police are looking for the drug lord.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are discussing a crime documentary.
- JavierEste documental trata sobre un capo de la droga.This documentary is about a drug lord.
- Elena¿Fue muy peligroso?Was he very dangerous?
- JavierSí, controlaba todo el mercado regional.Yes, he controlled the entire regional market.
- ElenaParece una historia muy intensa.It seems like a very intense story.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries capo, de, droga, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
