Inklingo

How to Say "to sedate" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sedar

/seh-DAHR//seˈðar/

verbB1medical, veterinary
Use 'sedar' when referring to the medical or veterinary administration of drugs to calm a patient or induce unconsciousness for a procedure.
A peaceful golden retriever lying asleep on a soft blue veterinarian table, appearing calm and deeply relaxed.

Examples

El doctor decidió sedar al paciente antes de la cirugía.

The doctor decided to sedate the patient before the surgery.

Tuvimos que sedar al perro para cortarle las uñas.

We had to sedate the dog to cut his nails.

Esta música suave ayuda a sedar mis nervios.

This soft music helps to soothe my nerves.

Direct Action Word

This verb usually needs a 'target' (the person or animal being sedated). Because you are doing it to someone, you often use the 'personal a' (e.g., 'Sedar a Juan').

A 'False Friend' Warning

Don't confuse 'sedar' with 'sed' (thirst) or 'seda' (silk). While they look similar, 'sedar' is strictly about calming or medicating.

Confusing with 'Sentar'

Mistake: “Voy a sedar en la silla.”

Correction: Voy a sentarme en la silla. (Sedar means to medicate/calm, while sentar means to sit down).

drogar

/dro-GAR//dɾoˈɡaɾ/

verbB1general, informal, criminal
Use 'drogar' when someone is given drugs, especially illicitly or without consent, to incapacitate or drug them, often in a criminal context.
A hand holding a small dropper bottle over a glass of water.

Examples

Alguien intentó drogar a la víctima con una bebida.

Someone tried to drug the victim with a drink.

El veterinario tuvo que drogar al león para examinarlo.

The veterinarian had to sedate the lion to examine it.

Me drogaron sin que me diera cuenta.

They drugged me without me realizing it.

The 'GU' Spelling Change

To keep the 'G' sounding hard (like 'goat'), we change it to 'GU' whenever the next letter is an 'E'. This happens in the 'Yo' form of the finished past (drogué) and in all forms of the special 'wish' mood (subjunctive).

Using the 'Personal A'

When you are drugging a person (the object of the sentence), you must put the word 'a' before their name or description. For example: 'Drogar a Juan'.

Confusing 'drogar' with medicine

Mistake: “Me voy a drogar para el dolor de cabeza.”

Correction: Me voy a tomar una medicina para el dolor de cabeza. 'Drogar' usually implies illegal drugs or losing consciousness, not just taking aspirin.

Medical vs. Illicit Use

Learners often confuse 'sedar' and 'drogar' because both involve drugs. Remember that 'sedar' is the correct term for medically administering sedatives, while 'drogar' is used for drugging someone, often with negative or criminal intent.

Related Translations

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