cocaína
“cocaína” means “cocaine” in Spanish (illicit drug).
cocaine
Also: coke, blow
📝 In Action
El decomiso de cocaína en el puerto fue noticia nacional.
B2The seizure of cocaine at the port was national news.
La adicción a la cocaína requiere tratamiento médico profesional.
C1Cocaine addiction requires professional medical treatment.
La sustancia activa de la cocaína se extrae de la hoja de coca.
B2The active substance in cocaine is extracted from the coca leaf.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cocaína
Question 1 of 2
¿Qué género tiene el sustantivo 'cocaína'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Quechua language term *kúka* (referring to the coca plant), combined with the chemical suffix '-ina' to denote the alkaloid extracted from the plant.
First recorded: 19th century (after its chemical isolation)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cocaína' used in any non-drug related context?
No. Unlike some substances, 'cocaína' refers exclusively to the illicit drug or the chemical compound derived from the coca plant. It is not used metaphorically in common speech.
Is the plant 'coca' legal?
The cultivation and traditional use of the coca leaf ('coca') for chewing or making tea is legal and culturally significant in certain Andean countries, but the extraction of 'cocaína' from the leaves is illegal worldwide.