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How to Say "red tape" in Spanish

The Spanish word for “red tape” is “papeleo” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB1
nounB1
excessive bureaucracy or unnecessary procedures
A massive, overwhelming stack of official-looking white and beige documents tied with red string, towering over a small wooden desk, illustrating the burden of administrative tasks.

Examples

El papeleo para comprar la casa es interminable.

The paperwork to buy the house is endless.

Tuvimos que lidiar con mucho papeleo en la aduana.

We had to deal with a lot of red tape at customs.

Ella es la encargada de hacer todo el papeleo de la empresa.

She is in charge of doing all the company's documentation/paperwork.

Uncountable Noun

'Papeleo' is treated as a collective, singular thing, similar to how English treats 'information' or 'advice.' It is always masculine: 'el papeleo'.

Using a plural form

Mistake: “Necesito muchos papeleos.”

Correction: Say 'Necesito mucho papeleo' (I need a lot of paperwork). Never use the plural form 'papeleos'.

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