Standard Lemma guide

narco-

prefix · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /nɑɹkoʊ/

1

prefix

Meaning 1

Pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prefix

Meaning 2

Of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek νάρκη (nárkē) Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-oyétider.? Ancient Greek -όω (-óō) Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō) English narco- From Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō, “I put to sleep”); in terms relating to drugs, it is a back-formation from narcotics, which ultimately derives from the same source.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: narco- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • French: narco- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Galician: narco- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Italian: narco- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Polish: narko- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Portuguese: narco- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Russian: нарко- (narko-) — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Spanish: narco- — pertaining to stupor, sleep, or a state of unconsciousness
  • Catalan: narco- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • French: narco- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • Galician: narco- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • German: Drogen- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • Italian: narco- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • Polish: narko- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • Portuguese: narco- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • Russian: нарко- (narko-) — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use
  • Spanish: narco- — of or pertaining to narcotics or their trade and use