A brightly colored illustration of a single, iconic green cannabis leaf with seven points.

marihuana

mah-ree-WHAH-nah

nounfB1

marijuana?cannabis substance,cannabis?botanical name

Also:weed?informal substance,pot?informal substance

📝 In Action

La marihuana medicinal se usa para tratar el dolor crónico.

Medical marijuana is used to treat chronic pain.

El cultivo de marihuana es legal en algunos estados.

The cultivation of cannabis is legal in some states.

Prefiero no hablar de marihuana en la oficina.

I prefer not to talk about marijuana in the office.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cannabis (cannabis)
hierba (herb (informal for cannabis))
mota (pot (slang))

Common Collocations

consumir marihuana – to consume marijuana
marihuana legal – legal marijuana
aceite de marihuana – marijuana oil

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to a plant or substance, 'marihuana' is always a feminine noun. Always use 'la' or 'una' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Spelling Confusion

Mistake: "Writing 'marijuana' (with a 'j')."

Correction: The most common and accepted spelling in standard Spanish is 'marihuana' (with an 'h'), even though the 'j' spelling is standard in English.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

While 'marihuana' is neutral, remember that many regions have specific slang terms ('mota' in Mexico, 'faso' in Argentina) that are used in very informal conversations.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: marihuana

Question 1 of 2

¿Cuál es el género gramatical de 'marihuana'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cannabis(cannabis) - noun

fumador(smoker) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'marihuana' o 'marijuana' la forma correcta en español?

Aunque ambas se entienden, 'marihuana' (con 'h') es la forma preferida y más común en la mayoría de los países hispanohablantes y es la recomendada por la Real Academia Española (RAE).

¿Se usa esta palabra para referirse solo a la planta o también al producto?

Se usa para ambas cosas: para referirse a la planta de cannabis en sí ('el cultivo de marihuana') y al producto seco que se consume ('fumar marihuana').