English–Spanish
“red tape” in Spanish
Spanish
Pronunciation
IPA/buɾoˈkɾaθja/
Example
La burocracia retrasó la apertura del negocio.
Red tape held up the opening of the business.
How to say “red tape” in Spanish
“Red tape” in Spanish is burocracia.
A tangle of stamped, identical forms piling up in front of a locked service window.
Example sentences with burocracia
La burocracia excesiva demoró mi solicitud de residencia.
Excessive bureaucracy delayed my residency application.
Tips for using burocracia
- In casual speech people say 'mucho papeleo' to point to the paperwork itself, while 'burocracia' highlights the system that creates those obstacles.