éxtasis
/ˈeɡstasis/
The English phrase "molly drug" can be translated into Spanish as éxtasis.
éxtasis is a slang term for the drug MDMA, which is often sold in powder or pill form. When a speaker wants to refer specifically to the pill form of the drug, they often use the phrase pastillas de éxtasis.
Which one should you use?
The term éxtasis is a slang way to refer to the drug, whereas metilenodioximetanfetamina is the formal name. In medical or legal contexts, the acronym MDMA is used in Spanish just as it is in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
éxtasis is the most common way to refer to the drug in Spanish-speaking countries. For formal or scientific purposes, use the full name metilenodioximetanfetamina or the technical acronym MDMA.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the drug is commonly referred to as MDMA.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeɡstasis/
Did you know?
- Because éxtasis is a common noun for a state of religious or emotional rapture, using it in a club context can create a linguistic pun that wouldn't exist with the English word 'molly'.
- The word éxtasis shares the same Greek roots as the English word 'ecstasy', both deriving from a term meaning 'to stand outside oneself'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the term éxtasis is used to describe both the drug and a state of religious rapture or spiritual transcendence.
Examples in context
- Compraron éxtasis en la fiesta.They bought ecstasy at the party.
- ¿Eso es éxtasis o otra cosa?Is that ecstasy or something else?
- El éxtasis es muy peligroso.Ecstasy is very dangerous.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are talking privately about a nightclub incident.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿viste lo que pasó con el éxtasis?Daniel, did you see what happened with the ecstasy?
- DanielNo, no sé de qué hablas.No, I don't know what you're talking about.
- LucíaAlguien lo vendía en la entrada.Someone was selling it at the entrance.
- DanielQué mal, hay que tener cuidado.That's bad, we have to be careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry éxtasis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries éxtasis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
