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trincar

to catch; to arrest

verb trin-KAHR Rare
People & Society Crime

Also means

to drink (colloquial)

Usage Note

Trincar has several colloquial senses: in Spain it most often means to catch or nab a person (similar to pillar), as in being caught by the police. It also carries a nautical sense of lashing or securing cargo. In an informal register among young speakers in Spain it can mean to drink alcohol, which aligns with its use in some Latin American varieties. The variety of meanings makes it a good word to check in context.

Examples

"La policía le trincó con la mercancía robada."

Natural Translation

The police caught him with the stolen goods.

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