Inklingo
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tráfico

/TRAH-fee-koh/

traffic

A congested road scene showing many colorful cars stopped bumper-to-bumper, illustrating heavy traffic.

Tráfico refers to the movement or congestion of vehicles on a road.

tráfico(noun)

mA1

traffic

?

vehicle congestion or movement

Also:

flow (of vehicles)

?

general movement

📝 In Action

Hay mucho tráfico en la carretera principal a esta hora.

A1

There is a lot of traffic on the main road at this hour.

Necesito salir temprano para evitar el tráfico de la mañana.

A2

I need to leave early to avoid the morning traffic.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • congestión (congestion)
  • atasco (traffic jam)

Common Collocations

  • tráfico pesado – heavy traffic
  • hora punta – rush hour

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Reminder

Even though many Spanish words ending in '-a' are feminine, 'tráfico' ends in '-o' and is always masculine: 'el tráfico'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Tráfico' and 'Semáforo'

Mistake: "¿Dónde está el tráfico?"

Correction: The word for 'traffic light' is 'semáforo.' 'Tráfico' refers to the movement or congestion of cars.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Severity

Use adjectives like 'pesado' (heavy), 'lento' (slow), or 'horrible' (horrible) to describe how bad the congestion is.

Two simple cartoon figures meeting secretly in a dimly lit alleyway, one handing the other a plain, unmarked brown box, symbolizing illegal trade or smuggling.

When referring to illegal trade or smuggling, tráfico translates to trafficking.

tráfico(noun)

mB2

trafficking

?

illegal trade or smuggling

Also:

dealing

?

illicit exchange of goods

📝 In Action

Las autoridades luchan contra el tráfico de drogas en la frontera.

B2

The authorities are fighting drug trafficking on the border.

El tráfico de especies protegidas es un delito grave.

C1

The trafficking of protected species is a serious crime.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • contrabando (smuggling)
  • comercio ilegal (illegal trade)

Common Collocations

  • tráfico de influencias – influence peddling (using connections unfairly)
  • tráfico de personas – human trafficking

💡 Grammar Points

Specifying the Goods

When talking about illegal trade, you must connect 'tráfico' to the item being traded using the preposition 'de' (of): 'tráfico de armas' (arms trafficking).

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Contexts

This meaning is almost always used in serious, formal, or journalistic contexts. Avoid using it for minor, everyday exchanges.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tráfico

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'tráfico' to mean illegal trade, not vehicle congestion?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

traficar(to traffic (to deal illegally)) - verb
traficante(trafficker, dealer) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'tráfico' ever mean 'traffic light'?

No. While related to traffic, the specific word for a 'traffic light' in Spanish is 'semáforo.' 'Tráfico' refers to the flow or blockage of vehicles.

How can I remember the two main meanings of 'tráfico'?

Think of 'tráfico' as 'flow' or 'exchange.' The most common use is the 'flow of cars.' The second, darker meaning, is the 'illegal exchange of goods' (trafficking).