Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| yonqui | /ˈʝonki/ | feminine, masculine, slang |
| yonki | /ˈʝonki/ | feminine, masculine, slang, alternative form |
The term is a slang way to refer to a narcotics addict. Like the English word 'junkie', it is a highly colloquial term that carries a strong social stigma.
Which one should you use?
yonqui is the standard spelling, while yonki is a common alternative spelling using a 'k' for phonetic purposes in informal writing. Both forms can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
yonqui and yonki are both slang and highly colloquial. For formal situations, you should use consumidor(a) de drogas (drug consumer) or adicto(a) a sustancias (someone addicted to substances). In informal contexts, you might also hear the word enganchado(a) to describe someone who is hooked or addicted.
Is it said differently in some regions?
While yonqui is a slang term used in Spain, it is also used informally in some Latin American countries. In certain parts of Latin America, the informal term toxico(a) may also be used to refer to a drug addict.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make this word plural, add -s to the end to get yonquis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝonki/
Did you know?
- While yonqui refers to drug addiction, the word tóxico has shifted in modern Spanish to describe a person in an emotionally draining relationship.
- In Spain, yonqui can be used as a derogatory adjective for anyone who looks disheveled or acts erratically, regardless of whether they use drugs.
- The spelling yonki uses the letter 'k', which is not a native part of the Spanish alphabet and appears almost exclusively in foreign loanwords and street slang.
Examples in context
- Mi primo es un yonqui.My cousin is a junkie.This sentence uses yonqui to identify a cousin as a junkie.Tatoeba #1405881 by enteka, translation #1406091 by enteka
- Es un yonqui.He's a junkie.This sentence uses yonqui to identify him as a junkie.Tatoeba #8690475 by ajje, translation #8477297 by CH
- El gobierno está implementando programas para ayudar a los jóvenes drogadictos a reintegrarse en la sociedad.The government is implementing programs to help young drug addicts reintegrate into society.
- Mi vecino es un yonki, siempre lo veo buscando drogas por el barrio.My neighbor is a junkie, I always see him looking for drugs around the neighborhood.
- Ese hombre es un yonqui de la calle.That man is a street junkie.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking about a neighbor.
- ElenaMira a ese hombre, parece un yonqui.Look at that man, he looks like a junkie.
- JavierNo digas eso, Elena.Don't say that, Elena.
- ElenaEs que se comporta como un yonqui.It's just that he behaves like a junkie.
- JavierNo lo conocemos, Javier no sabe nada.We don't know him, Javier knows nothing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “junkie” translations and entries yonqui, yonki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
