narcotraficante
“narcotraficante” means “drug trafficker” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
drug trafficker
Also: drug lord, narco
📝 In Action
La policía capturó al narcotraficante más buscado de la región.
B1The police captured the most wanted drug trafficker in the region.
Muchos jóvenes son engañados por el dinero fácil del narcotraficante.
B2Many young people are deceived by the drug trafficker's easy money.
La serie de televisión trata sobre la vida de un narcotraficante famoso.
B1The TV series is about the life of a famous drug trafficker.
drug-trafficking
Also: narco-
📝 In Action
Las autoridades desarticularon una red narcotraficante internacional.
C1Authorities dismantled an international drug-trafficking network.
El país lucha contra la influencia narcotraficante en la política.
C2The country fights against drug-trafficking influence in politics.
Investigan las rutas narcotraficantes en el Caribe.
C1They are investigating drug-trafficking routes in the Caribbean.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: narcotraficante
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'the female drug trafficker'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
A combination of the Greek 'narkē' (meaning numbness or sleep) and the Spanish 'traficante' (trafficker/trader), which comes from Italian.
First recorded: 20th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'narcotraficante' always refer to someone famous like Pablo Escobar?
Not necessarily. While it's often used for big figures, it technically refers to anyone involved in the business of illegal drug transport and sale on a significant scale.
What is the difference between a 'camello' and a 'narcotraficante'?
A 'camello' (slang in Spain) is a street-level dealer selling small amounts. A 'narcotraficante' is usually someone part of a larger organization that moves drugs across borders or between cities.
Is 'narco' a bad word?
It's not a 'curse word,' but it describes a criminal. It is used very casually in many Spanish-speaking countries to describe anything related to that world (narco-series, narco-cultura).