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opio

OH-pyohˈopjo

“opio” means “opium” in Spanish (the substance derived from poppy plants).

opium

Also: narcotic
NounmB2
A vibrant red poppy flower with a green seed pod in the center, shown in a simple illustration.

📝 In Action

La amapola es la planta de donde se saca el opio.

B1

The poppy is the plant from which opium is extracted.

Estudiamos las Guerras del Opio en la clase de historia.

B2

We studied the Opium Wars in history class.

Karl Marx dijo que la religión es el opio del pueblo.

C1

Karl Marx said that religion is the opium of the people.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • narcótico (narcotic)
  • estupefaciente (drug/stupefacient)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • amapola de opio – opium poppy
  • fumadero de opio – opium den
  • guerras del opio – opium wars

Idioms & Expressions

  • el opio del pueblo – something used to keep people passive or quiet

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "opio" in Spanish:

narcotic→opium→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: opio

Question 1 of 3

What is the flower that opium is derived from called in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
opiáceo(opiate) — Adjective
opioide(opioid) — Noun
opioidómano(opium addict) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
propioacopiocopio
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'opium', which comes from the Greek 'opion', meaning 'poppy juice'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: opiumFrench: opiumItalian: oppio

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'opio' and 'opioide' the same thing?

Not exactly. 'Opio' refers to the natural substance from the plant, while 'opioide' is a broader term for both natural and synthetic drugs that act in a similar way.

How do you pronounce the 'io' in 'opio'?

It is a diphthong, meaning the two vowels merge into one quick sound. It sounds like 'pyoh' at the end of the word.

Can I use 'opio' to mean a 'lazy person'?

No, while it implies numbness or sleepiness, it isn't used as a slang term for a person in Spanish.