trata
“trata” means “trafficking” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
trafficking
Also: trade
📝 In Action
La trata de personas es un crimen horrible.
B2Human trafficking is a horrible crime.
Hay leyes estrictas contra la trata de animales exóticos.
C1There are strict laws against the trafficking of exotic animals.
La historia de la trata de esclavos es una parte oscura del pasado.
B2The history of the slave trade is a dark part of the past.
he/she treats, it is about, he/she tries, treat
📝 In Action
Mi hermana me trata como a un niño.
A2My sister treats me like a child.
La película trata de un viaje a la luna.
B1The movie is about a trip to the moon.
Él trata de aprender español todos los días.
B1He tries to learn Spanish every day.
Trata de ser amable con todos.
A2Try to be kind to everyone.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: trata
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'trata' to mean illegal trafficking?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'tratar', from the Latin word 'tractāre', which meant 'to handle, manage, or drag'. The noun form 'la trata' developed from the idea of 'dealing' in goods, which over time narrowed to its modern, negative meaning of illegal trade.
First recorded: Around the 15th century (verb), 18th century (noun sense)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'trato' and 'trata'?
'Trata' is either a verb form ('he/she treats') or the noun for illegal trafficking ('la trata'). 'Trato' is a different noun meaning 'a deal' or 'treatment' (the way you are treated). For example, 'Hicimos un trato' (We made a deal) and 'Me dio un buen trato' (He gave me good treatment).
Is 'la trata' always a bad thing?
Yes, when used as a noun, 'la trata' has a very strong negative meaning. It refers to serious crimes like human trafficking, the slave trade, or animal trafficking. It's not used for regular, legal business.