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borrachera

bo-rrah-cheh-rah/boraˈtʃeɾa/

“borrachera” means “drunkenness” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

drunkenness, binge

Also: intoxication, bender
NounfB1
MexicoSpain
A person swaying unsteadily with a dizzy expression and colorful bubbles around their head, standing next to a tipped-over glass.

📝 In Action

Después de la fiesta, le duró la borrachera varias horas.

B1

After the party, his drunkenness lasted for several hours.

No recuerdo nada de anoche por la borrachera.

B2

I don't remember anything from last night because of the binge.

Se fue a casa a dormir la borrachera.

B1

He went home to sleep off the drunkenness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ebriedad (drunkenness (formal))
  • melopea (drunkenness (informal slang))

Antonyms

  • sobriedad (sobriety)

Common Collocations

  • pillar una borrachera – to get drunk / to go on a binge
  • dormir la borrachera – to sleep it off (the alcohol)
  • agarrar una borrachera – to catch/get a binge (common in Latin America)

Idioms & Expressions

  • borrachera de poder – to be blinded or overwhelmed by having power

spree, high

Also: excess
NounfC1
A person happily carrying a massive, overflowing stack of colorful shopping bags to represent a burst of activity.

📝 In Action

El equipo vivió una borrachera de goles en el segundo tiempo.

C1

The team experienced a goal spree in the second half.

Tras el estreno, el director sintió una borrachera de éxito.

C2

After the premiere, the director felt a high from the success.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • frenesí (frenzy)
  • exceso (excess)

Common Collocations

  • borrachera de goles – a spree of goals
  • borrachera de alegría – a flood of joy

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "borrachera" in Spanish:

bender→binge→drunkenness→excess→high→intoxication→spree→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: borrachera

Question 1 of 3

Which of these words refers to the headache you have AFTER drinking?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
borracho(drunk) — Adjective / Noun
emborracharse(to get drunk) — Verb
borrachín(drunkard (lighthearted)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from 'borracha', which was a traditional leather wine skin. The root is likely related to 'borra' (sediment or dregs found in wine).

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: borracheira

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'borrachera' a bad word?

No, it is not a swear word. It is a standard noun, though because it refers to intoxication, it's used in informal or social contexts rather than professional ones.

Can I use 'borrachera' for a person?

No. For a person, use 'borracho' (He is drunk / Él está borracho). 'Borrachera' is only the name of the state itself.

What is the difference between 'ebriedad' and 'borrachera'?

'Ebriedad' is formal and technical (like 'inebriation'), whereas 'borrachera' is the word everyone uses in real life.