What does chela mean in Spanish?

Chela is Mexican slang for beer. It is widely used in informal settings throughout Mexico but may not be understood in other Spanish-speaking countries.

Is cerveza masculine or feminine?

Cerveza is feminine. You say la cerveza and una cerveza. Despite ending in -a, some learners second-guess themselves, but the -a ending here follows the standard feminine pattern.

What is a caña in Spain?

A caña is a small glass of draft beer, usually around 200 ml. It is the most common way to order beer in a Spanish tapas bar and is typically cheaper than a full pint.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Beer in Spanish: Cerveza

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Cerveza · noun (feminine) · sehr-BEH-sah

Cerveza is the standard Spanish noun for beer. It is a feminine noun (la cerveza) and is universally understood, though many countries have colorful slang alternatives like chela, birra, or caña.

sehr-BEH-sah

¿Me pones una cerveza, por favor?

Can you get me a beer, please?

Beer in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for beer, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
cerveza	beer	sehr-BEH-sah	Default, widely understood
chela	beer		Mexico (informal)
birra	beer		Argentina / Spain (informal)
caña	beer		Spain (a small draft beer)

How Native Speakers Use Cerveza

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Ordering at a bar

Quiero dos cervezas bien frías, por favor.

I want two ice-cold beers, please.

Placing an order at a bar or restaurant.

Casual slang in Mexico

Vamos por unas chelas después del partido.

Let's go grab some beers after the game.

Using the Mexican slang chela among friends.

In Spain

Ponme una caña y unas aceitunas.

Give me a small draft beer and some olives.

In Spain, a caña refers specifically to a small glass of draft beer, typically served in tapas bars.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cerveza

Wrong article gender

Incorrect: Dame un cerveza.

Correct: Dame una cerveza.

Cerveza is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine article una, not the masculine un.

Using caña outside Spain

Incorrect: Quiero una caña. (said in Mexico)

Correct: Quiero una cerveza de barril. (in Mexico)

Caña as a term for draft beer is specific to Spain. In Mexico it would not be understood the same way; use cerveza de barril instead.

Lock in Beer Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Cerveza used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cerveza in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Me pones una cerveza, por favor? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Beer in Spanish

What does chela mean in Spanish?: Chela is Mexican slang for beer. It is widely used in informal settings throughout Mexico but may not be understood in other Spanish-speaking countries.
Is cerveza masculine or feminine?: Cerveza is feminine. You say la cerveza and una cerveza. Despite ending in -a, some learners second-guess themselves, but the -a ending here follows the standard feminine pattern.
What is a caña in Spain?: A caña is a small glass of draft beer, usually around 200 ml. It is the most common way to order beer in a Spanish tapas bar and is typically cheaper than a full pint.