Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal settings, you can use está drogado to say someone is drugged or high. For more colloquial speech, está colocado is a common way to say someone is high or stoned. If you need to be formal, use Está bajo la influencia de drogas/alcohol (They are under the influence of drugs/alcohol) or Se encuentra en estado alterado (They are in an altered state).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the slang term está volado is used to describe someone who is high or acting disconnected from reality.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must change to match the gender and number of the subject: use está drogada for a female, and use the plural form están drogados when referring to multiple people.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying es drogado. es drogado implies that the person is a drug addict by nature.
Did you know?
- The colloquial term está colocado uses a word that normally describes furniture or art. It suggests the person has been 'placed' or 'positioned' into a different state of mind.
- In Mexico, you might hear someone say they are bien loco to mean they are high or acting wild. While 'loco' usually means 'crazy', in certain street slangs, it refers to the state of being under the influence.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, you can call a daydreamer or a scatterbrained person volado, even if they are completely sober.
Examples in context
- Creo que Juan está bajo la influencia de drogas. Su comportamiento es extraño.I think Juan is under the influence of drugs. His behavior is strange.
- Ayer Juan estaba muy drogado. Casi no podía hablarYesterday, Juan was very drugged. He could hardly speak.
- Él está drogado después de la fiesta.He is high after the party.
- Parece que el chico está drogado.It looks like the boy is high.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are observing a man at a music festival.
- Daniel¿Viste a ese hombre? Está drogado.Did you see that man? He is high.
- ElenaSí, Daniel, se nota mucho.Yes, Daniel, it is very noticeable.
- DanielDeberíamos avisar a la seguridad.We should notify security.
- ElenaTienes razón, vamos.You are right, let's go.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
