Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Drink in Spanish: Beber, Tomar, and Related Words
Beber · verb (also noun as bebida) · beh-BEHR
Beber is the textbook Spanish verb for to drink. In everyday Latin American Spanish, tomar is more frequently used for the same meaning. As a noun, a drink is una bebida (any beverage) or un trago / una copa (alcoholic drink).
beh-BEHR — two syllables, stress on the second. Tomar is toh-MAHR. Bebida is beh-BEE-dah.
Necesito beber agua después de correr.
I need to drink water after running.
Drink in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for drink, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| beber | drink | beh-BEHR | Default, widely understood |
| tomar | drink | Latin America (most common alternative) | |
| bebida | drink | universal (noun: a drink / beverage) | |
| trago | drink | Latin America (an alcoholic drink) | |
| copa | drink | universal (a glass of wine / cocktail) |
How Native Speakers Use Beber
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Basic verb usage
¿Quieres beber algo?
Do you want to drink something?
Beber is universally understood and slightly more formal than tomar in Latin America.
Latin American preference
Vamos a tomar un café.
Let's go have a coffee.
In Mexico, Colombia, and most of Latin America, tomar replaces beber in casual conversation.
Noun: a beverage
¿Qué bebida quieres con tu comida?
What drink do you want with your meal?
Bebida is the standard noun for any beverage, alcoholic or not.
Alcoholic drink
Salimos por unos tragos el viernes.
We went out for some drinks on Friday.
Trago refers specifically to an alcoholic drink, especially in casual Latin American Spanish.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Beber
Using beber for take (medicine)
Incorrect: Bebe esta pastilla.
Correct: Toma esta pastilla.
For taking medicine, Spanish uses tomar (to take), not beber. Beber is only for liquids you actually drink.
Confusing bebida with comida
Incorrect: Quiero una bebida de pollo. (meaning a chicken meal)
Correct: Quiero una comida de pollo.
Bebida means beverage/drink while comida means food/meal — beginners sometimes mix up these mealtime vocabulary words despite their different meanings.
Lock in Drink 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 Beber used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using beber in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Necesito beber agua después de correr. 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 Drink in Spanish
- How do you say drink in Spanish?
- The verb is beber (to drink). In Latin America, tomar is more common in everyday speech. The noun for a beverage is bebida; for an alcoholic drink, trago or copa.
- What is the difference between beber and tomar?
- Both mean to drink, but tomar is broader — it also means to take (a bus, medicine, a photo). In Latin America, tomar is the default for drinking. In Spain, beber is preferred for the act of drinking liquids, while tomar means to have/order.
- How do you say 'a drink' as a noun in Spanish?
- Una bebida for any beverage, un trago for a (usually alcoholic) drink, una copa for a glass of wine or cocktail. At a bar you might ask: ¿Quieres un trago? or ¿Te pido una copa?