Inklingo

How to Say "alcoholic" in Spanish

English → Spanish

alcohólico

adjectiveA2general
Use this when describing something that contains alcohol, like beverages.

Examples

No bebo bebidas alcohólicas.

I don't drink alcoholic beverages.

alcohólico

nounB1general
Use this to refer to a person who suffers from the medical condition of alcoholism.

Examples

Él es un alcohólico en recuperación.

He is a recovering alcoholic.

borracho

boh-RRAH-cho (The 'rr' is rolled, and 'ch' sounds like the 'ch' in 'church')boˈra.tʃo

nounB1informal
Use this to describe someone who is currently drunk or who habitually drinks to excess, but it's less formal and specific than 'alcohólico' for the medical condition.
An illustration of a solitary, disheveled man sitting slumped on a park bench looking downtrodden.

Examples

El borracho se durmió en la acera.

The drunkard fell asleep on the sidewalk.

Su tío siempre ha sido un borracho; no puede dejar la botella.

His uncle has always been a drunk; he can't put the bottle down.

The Noun Form

When used as a noun, 'borracho' (or 'borracha' for a woman) refers to the actual person, not just their state. It usually requires a definite article (like 'el' or 'la').

Confusing 'alcohólico' and 'borracho'

Learners often confuse 'alcohólico' and 'borracho' when referring to people. Remember that 'alcohólico' specifically denotes the medical condition of alcoholism, while 'borracho' more generally means drunk or a heavy drinker and can be offensive.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.