droga
“droga” means “drug” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
drug
Also: narcotic
📝 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.
chemical substance
Also: drug ingredient
📝 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.
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Quick Quiz: droga
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál de estas palabras NO se usa para referirse a la medicina que tomas para un resfriado?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word entered Spanish from Old French *drogue*, meaning 'dry goods' or 'raw material.' It originally referred to any kind of raw ingredient, especially those used in medicine or pharmacy, before its meaning narrowed significantly in modern times to focus primarily on controlled or illicit substances.
First recorded: 14th century (in related forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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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).