traficantes
/tra-fee-KAHN-tess/
traffickers
The word 'traficantes' refers to people who trade in illegal goods, often operating in secret.
traficantes(noun)
traffickers
?people trading in illegal goods
dealers
?specifically regarding illegal drugs
,smugglers
?people moving goods or people illegally across borders
📝 In Action
La policía arrestó a los traficantes de armas.
B1The police arrested the weapons traffickers.
Las autoridades vigilan a los traficantes de personas en la frontera.
B2Authorities are watching the human traffickers at the border.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking about groups
This word is the plural form of 'traficante'. It stays the same for both men and women; only the little word before it changes (los traficantes for men/mixed, las traficantes for women).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Traffic vs. Traffickers
Mistake: "Using 'traficantes' to describe cars on the road."
Correction: Use 'tráfico' for cars. 'Traficantes' only refers to the people doing the illegal trading.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is key
While it can technically mean any trader, in modern Spanish it almost always implies that what they are selling is illegal.
As an adjective, 'traficantes' describes a group or network involved in a trafficking operation.
📝 In Action
Desarticularon varias redes traficantes este mes.
C1Several trafficking networks were broken up this month.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing things
When used as a description, this word must match the thing it describes. Since it ends in -es, it is used with plural words like 'redes' (networks) or 'bandas' (gangs).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: traficantes
Question 1 of 1
Which phrase describes people who illegally trade weapons?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'traficantes' ever refer to normal car traffic?
No. Use 'tráfico' for vehicles on a street. 'Traficantes' only refers to people involved in trade, usually illegal.
Is it 'los traficantes' or 'las traficantes'?
Both are correct! Use 'los' for a group of men or a mixed-gender group, and 'las' if the group consists only of women.