What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from te (yourself), ves (you see) and drogado (drugged/under the influence).
Which one should you use?
While te ves drogado is a direct way to state someone looks high, pareces estar bajo la influencia de drogas is a more formal and clinical way to express the same observation. For a more slang-oriented approach, estás volado can be used to say 'you are high'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Te ves drogado is blunt and can be offensive. For a more polite or professional context, use pareces estar bajo la influencia de drogas or Usted se ve como si estuviera bajo los efectos de algo. In highly informal settings, you might use slang such as Te ves como si estuvieras volado/a or Tienes cara de estar puesto/a.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Estás volado is a common slang alternative used in several Latin American countries to describe being high.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the person being addressed. Use te ves drogada if speaking to a woman. To address a group of people (you all look high), you would change the pronoun and verb to se ven drogados.
Did you know?
- In Spain, someone who is high might be described as está flipando, which comes from the English word 'flip'.
- In Spain, one might describe someone looking high by saying está ido, which literally means 'he/she is gone'.
- If you want to be extremely indirect or use a euphemism, you can say parece que le pegó el viaje, which translates to 'it seems the trip hit you'.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, pero usted parece estar bajo los efectos de algo. ¿Necesita ayuda?Excuse me, but you seem to be under the influence of something. Do you need any help?
- Oye, te ves como si estuvieras volado/a. ¿Estás bien?Hey, you look like you're high. Are you okay?
- Te ves drogado con esos ojos rojos.You look high with those red eyes.
- No te rías así, te ves drogado.Don't laugh like that, you look high.
- Dime la verdad, te ves drogado.Tell me the truth, you look high.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at a house party.
- JavierElena, te ves drogado.Elena, you look high.
- ElenaNo es cierto, solo estoy cansada.That's not true, I'm just tired.
- JavierNo, hablo en serio, te ves drogado.No, I'm serious, you look high.
- ElenaEstá bien, voy a tomar agua.Alright, I'm going to drink some water.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
