droga
/DROH-gah/
drug
When referring to an illicit substance, 'droga' translates to 'drug'.
📝 In Action
La policía incautó tres kilos de droga en el aeropuerto.
B1The police seized three kilos of drugs at the airport.
El consumo de droga puede arruinar vidas.
B2Drug use can ruin lives.
Mi serie favorita es una droga; no puedo parar de verla.
B2My favorite series is like a drug; I can't stop watching it.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number
'Droga' is a feminine noun, so you always use feminine articles: 'la droga' (the drug) or 'las drogas' (the drugs).
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Use
You can use 'droga' figuratively, especially in informal talk, to describe something highly addictive or intensely enjoyable, like a video game or a favorite food.
Droga can also refer to a chemical substance used as a raw material for pharmaceutical products.
droga(noun)
chemical substance
?raw material for pharmaceutical use
drug ingredient
?pharmacy/chemistry
📝 In Action
El laboratorio purificó la droga base para el nuevo antibiótico.
C2The laboratory purified the base chemical substance for the new antibiotic.
La corteza de este árbol contiene una droga natural con propiedades analgésicas.
C1The bark of this tree contains a natural chemical substance with pain-relieving properties.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Say 'Droga' for 'Medicine'
Mistake: "Using 'droga' when you mean 'píldora' or 'medicamento'."
Correction: Use 'medicamento' or 'medicina' for the final product (the pill or treatment). 'Droga' refers only to the raw chemical component.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: droga
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál de estas palabras NO se usa para referirse a la medicina que tomas para un resfriado?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'droga' always negative?
In everyday conversation, yes, 'droga' almost always refers to an illegal or controlled substance. In very formal or technical chemistry/pharmacy contexts, it can neutrally mean 'chemical substance,' but this use is rare outside those fields.
What is the feminine article for 'droga'?
'Droga' is a feminine noun, so you use 'la' (la droga) or 'una' (una droga).