What does it mean word for word?
The adjective colocado literally means 'placed' or 'positioned', but in this context, it is used metaphorically to mean 'high'.
Which one should you use?
You can use Estoy volado/a for an informal way to say you are high or Estoy colocadísimo/a if you want to add stronger emphasis to say you are really high. In a formal or medical setting, you would instead use Me encuentro bajo los efectos de… to mean 'I am under the influence of…'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
estoy colocado is an informal phrase commonly used in social settings. For formal situations, use Me encuentro bajo los efectos de…
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the phrase Estar fumado/a is used to mean 'to be stoned'. In certain other Spanish-speaking countries, you may also hear estar colocado/a or estar frito/a used to mean 'to be high'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the word is an adjective, the ending must match the gender of the speaker: use estoy colocado if you are male and estoy colocada if you are female.
Did you know?
- In some regions, saying estoy frito/a to mean 'I am high' uses a culinary metaphor, as the word literally means 'fried'.
- While colocado means 'high' in a drug context, the verb colocar is also used in professional Spanish to mean 'securing' a job for someone or 'placing' a product in a market.
- The phrase estoy fumado/a is more specific than the English 'I am high', as it often implies that the person has specifically smoked something to reach that state.
Examples in context
- Me gusta fumar marihuana porque me pone volado/a.I like smoking marijuana because it gets me high.
- Después de tomar ese brebaje, estoy colocadísimo/a.After drinking that concoction, I am really high.
- No puedo caminar, estoy colocado.I can't walk, I am high.
- Me siento muy bien, estoy colocado.I feel very good, I am high.
Example conversation
Two friends are sitting on a couch in a living room.
- ElenaJavier, ¿estás bien?Javier, are you okay?
- JavierSí, Elena, es que estoy colocado.Yes, Elena, it's just that I am high.
- ElenaPareces muy relajado.You look very relaxed.
- JavierEs que estoy muy colocado.It's just that I am very high.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
