252 delightful drinks in Spanish to wet your word whistle

Whether you love to have fun or simply want to stay hydrated during your travels, knowing how to talk about drinks in Spanish is going to be a game-changer.

Even if you already know how to order food in Spanish, you’ll want to order something to wash it all down too! Luckily, there are hundreds of delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for you to order, from the typical coffees and fruit juices to local specialties that you may or may not have heard of.

If you’re learning Spanish, you’ll definitely want to pay special attention to this blog! Not only will it round out your knowledge of Spanish, but it will also allow you to order and drink specialty drinks like a pro. For example, are you familiar with tapas culture in Spain? Know how to drink tequila like a pro? Keep reading and we’ll show you!

Ready to quench your thirst? ¡Vamos!

How do you say “drinks” in Spanish?

The first thing you need to learn, of course, is how to actually say “drinks” in Spanish. Lucky for you, there’s an easy word for all drinks and beverages: las bebidas. These can be both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, so you can just use that word to refer to any unidentified drink!

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Drink	Una bebida	βeˈβiða	beh-bee-da
Drinks	Unas bebidas	βeˈβiðas	beh-bee-das
Drink (alcoholic)	Un trago	ˈtɾaɣo	trah-go
Drinks (alcoholic)	Unos tragos	ˈtɾaɣos	trah-gos
Cocktail	Un cóctel	ˈkok̚tɛl	cock-tel
Cocktails	Unos cocteles	kok̚ˈteles	cock-tel-ehs

How to order drinks in Spanish

If you want to get to ordering right away (maybe you’re already at the restaurant!), here are a few easy ways to order exactly what you want. So, don’t sweat it if the waiter is already standing by! We’ll also include pronunciation guides on how to order drinks in Spanish so you can order without problems.

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Hi, may I please have a ____?	Hola, ¿te puedo pedir un ____, por favor?	ˈola | te ˈpweðo peˈðiɾ ũn | poɾ faˈβoɾ	oh-la teh poo-eh-doh peh-deer oon _____ pore fa-vor
I want a coffee with almond milk and brown sugar, please.	Quiero un café con leche de almendras y azúcar morena, por favor.	ˈkjɛɾo ũ̯n kaˈfe kõn ˈleʧe ðe alˈmɛ̃ndɾas j aˈsukaɾ moˈɾena | poɾ faˈβoɾ	key-air-oh oon ca-feh con leh-che deh al-men-dras e ah-sue-car mo-reh-na pore fa-vor
I’d like a really cold beer, please.	Quisiera una cerveza bien helada, por favor.	kiˈsjɛɾa ˈuna sɛɾˈβesa ˈβjɛn eˈlaða | poɾ faˈβoɾ	key-see-air-ah oo-na ser-veh-sa bee-ehn eh-la-da pore fa-vor
I would like a cocktail that’s not too sweet, please.	Me gustaría un cóctel que no esté muy dulce, por favor.	me ɣustaˈɾia ũ̯n ˈkok̚tɛl ˈke ˈno ɛsˈte mwi ˈðulse | poɾ faˈβoɾ	meh goose-ta-ree-ah oon coc-tel keh no es-teh mooy dool-seh pore fa-vor
I would like a glass of Argentine malbec, please.	Quisiera una copa de malbec argentino, por favor.	kiˈsjɛɾa ˈuna ˈkopa ðe malˈβɛk aɾxɛ̃nˈtino | poɾ faˈβoɾ	key-see-air-ah oo-na co-pa deh mal-bec ar-hen-teen-oh por fa-vor
Do you have any non-alcoholic drinks?	¿Tienes bebidas sin alcohol?	ˈtjenes̬ βeˈβiðas sin alkoˈol	tee-eh-nes beh-bee-das seen al-col
Is it okay if I sit down just to have a drink?	¿Está bien si me siento solo a tomar una bebida?	ɛsˈta ˈβjɛ̃n si me ˈsjɛ̃nto ˈsolo a toˈmaɾ ˈuna βeˈβiða	es-tah bee-ehn see meh see-ehn-toe so-lo ah toe-mar oo-na beh-bee-da
I would like a hot latte, please. What milk options do you have?	Quisiera un latte caliente, por favor. ¿Qué opciones de leche tienen?	kiˈsjɛɾa ũ̯n ˈlat̚te kaˈljɛ̃nte | poɾ faˈβoɾ ‖ ˈke opˈsjones̬ ðe ˈleʧe ˈtjenɛ̃n	key-see-air-ah oon la-teh por fa-vor
I would like a banderita with Don Julio 70 tequila, please.	Quisiera una banderita con tequila Don Julio 70, por favor.	kiˈsjɛɾa ˈuna βãndɛˈɾita kõn teˈkila ˈðõn ˈxuljo sɛˈtɛ̃nta | poɾ faˈβoɾ	key-see-air-ah oo-na ban-deh-ree-ta con teh-key-la don who-lee-oh seh-ten-ta por fa-vor
May I order a pint of beer and sparkling water, please?	¿Te puedo pedir una pinta de cerveza y un agua con gas, por favor?	te ˈpweðo peˈðiɾ ˈuna ˈpĩnta ðe sɛɾˈβesa j un ˈaɣwa kõn ˈɡas | poɾ faˈβoɾ	teh poo-eh-doh peh-deer oo-na peen-ta deh ser-veh-sa e oon ah-goo-ah con gas por fa-vor

Drinks in Spanish

Now, let’s get to the meat and potatoes (or the beverage alternative to this) of this article. As you know, there are hundreds and hundreds of types of beverages out there, so we’ll break them down into broad categories. We’ve included over 160 unique drinks in this guide, so be patient as you work your way through every section!

Water in Spanish

Perhaps surprisingly, there are many different types of water out there. In addition to the popular still and sparkling water, the origin of the water is also very important. Check out the following table to learn 16 ways to say water in Spanish.

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Water	El agua	ˈaɣwa	ah-goo-ah
Still water	El agua natural	ˈaɣwa natuˈɾal	ah-goo-ah nah-too-ral
Mineral water	El agua mineral	ˈaɣwa minɛˈɾal	ah-goo-ah me-neh-ral
Tonic water	El agua tónica	ˈaɣwa ˈtonika	ah-goo-ah toe-nee-cah
Soda water	El agua con gas	ˈaɣwa kõn ˈɡas	ah-goo-ah con gas
Bottle of water	Una botella de agua	βoˈteʝa ðe ˈaɣwa	bo-teh-ya deh ah-goo-ah
Tap water	El agua de la llave	ˈaɣwa ðe la ˈʝaβe	ah-goo-ah deh la ya-veh
Glass of water	Un vaso de agua	ˈbaso ðe ˈaɣwa	vah-so deh ah-goo-ah
Jug of water	Una jarra de agua	ˈxara ðe ˈaɣwa	ha-rah deh ah-goo-ah
Infused water	El agua con infusión	ˈaɣwa kon ĩmfuˈsjõn	ah-goo-ah con een-foo-see-on
Spring water	El agua de manantial	ˈaɣwa ðe manãnˈtjal	ah-goo-ah deh mah-nan-tee-al
Glacier water	El agua del glaciar	ˈaɣwa ðɛl ɣlaˈsjaɾ	ah-goo-ah del gla-see-ar
Distilled water	El agua destilada	ˈaɣwa ðɛstiˈlaða	ah-goo-ah des-tee-la-dah
Purified water	El agua purificada	ˈaɣwa puɾifiˈkaða	ah-goo-ah poo-re-fee-cah-dah
Alkaline water	El agua alcalina	ˈaɣwa alkaˈlina	ah-goo-ah al-cah-lee-nah
Well water	El agua de pozo	ˈaɣwa ðe ˈposo	ah-goo-ah deh po-so

Cold non-alcoholic soft drinks like sodas and juices in Spanish

If you’re underage or don’t enjoy drinking alcohol, there are plenty of fantastic juices, soft drinks and sodas in Spanish-speaking countries for you. You’ll be able to find all the most popular ones, in addition to some special local beverages that you wouldn’t be able to find in your home country!

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Juice	El jugo / el zumo	ˈxuɣo / ˈsumo	who-go / zoo-mo
Soda	El refresco	reˈfɾɛsko	reh-fres-coh
Orange juice	El jugo de naranja	ˈxuɣo ðe naˈɾãnxa	who-go deh na-rahn-ha
Lemonade	La limonada	limoˈnaða	lee-mo-na-da
Milk	La leche	ˈleʧe	leh-che
Root beer	La cerveza de raíz	sɛɾˈβesa ðe raˈis	ser-veh-sa deh rah-ees
Kombucha	La kombucha	kõmˈbuʧa	kom-boo-cha
Smoothie	El licuado	liˈkwaðo	lee-coo-ah-doh
Bubble tea	El té con tapioca	ˈte kõn taˈpjoka	teh con tah-pee-oh-cah
Fruit water	Las aguas frescas	ˈaɣwas ˈfɾɛskas	ah-goo-as fres-cas
Ginger beer	La cerveza de jengibre	sɛɾˈβesa ðe xɛ̃nˈxiβɾe	ser-veh-sa deh hen-he-breh
Horchata	La horchata	oɾˈʧata	or-cha-tah
Iced tea	El té helado	ˈte eˈlaðo	teh eh-la-doh
Iced coffee	El café helado	kaˈfe eˈlaðo	cah-feh eh-la-doh
Milk	La leche	ˈleʧe	leh-che
Almond milk	La leche de almendras	ˈleʧe ðe alˈmɛ̃ndɾas	leh-che deh al-men-drass
Soy milk	La leche de soya	ˈleʧe ðe ˈsoʝa	leh-che deh so-ya
Coconut milk	La leche de coco	ˈleʧe ðe ˈkoko	leh-che deh co-co
Sparkling lemonade	La limonada mineral	limoˈnaða minɛˈɾal	lee-mo-nah-da mee-neh-ral
Hibiscus water	La jamaica	xaˈmai̯ka	ha-mah-e-cah
Slushie	El raspado	rasˈpaðo	ras-ph-doh

Tea and coffee in Spanish

Starting the day with a steaming cup of hot coffee or a nice cup of chai is something that many of us can’t ever miss. So, if you’re worried about traveling abroad and not being able to get your caffeine fix, the following table on hot drinks covering mostly tea and coffee in Spanish will surely help you out!

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Coffee	El café	kaˈfe	ca-feh
Coffee with milk	El café con leche	kaˈfe kõn ˈleʧe	ca-feh con leh-che
Coffee with milk and sugar	El café con leche y azúcar	kaˈfe kõn ˈleʧe j aˈsukaɾ	ca-feh con leh-che e ah-soo-car
Decaf coffee	El café descafeinado	kaˈfe ðɛskafei̯ˈnaðo	cah-feh des-ca-feh-e-nah-doh
Tea	El té	ˈte	teh
Hot chocolate	El chocolate caliente	ʧokoˈlate kaˈljɛ̃nte	cho-co-la--teh cah-lee-en-teh
Chai latte	El chai latte	ˈʧai̯ ˈlat̚te	cha-e la-teh
Cappuccino	El capuchino	kapuˈʧino	ca-poo-chee-no
Espresso	El espresso	ɛsˈpɾɛsso	es-preh-so
Drip coffee	El café de filtro	kaˈfe ðe ˈfiltɾo	ca-feh deh feel-tro
Latte	El café latte	kaˈfe ˈlat̚te	ca-feh la-teh
Cortado	El café cortado	kaˈfe koɾˈtaðo	ca-feh core-ta-doh
Americano	El café americano	kaˈfe amɛɾiˈkano	ca-feh ah-meh-re-cah-no
Turkish coffee	El café turco	kaˈfe ˈtuɾko	ca-feh toor-coh
Frappé	El frappé	fɾap̚ˈpe	fra-peh
Herbal tea	El té herbal	ˈte ɛɾˈβal	teh air-bal
Black tea	El té negro	ˈte ˈneɣɾo	teh neh-gro
Green tea	El té verde	ˈte ˈβɛɾðe	teh ver-deh
Mint tea	El té de menta	ˈte ðe ˈmɛ̃nta	teh deh men-tah
Chamomile tea	El té de manzanilla	ˈte ðe mãnsaˈniʝa	teh deh man-za-nee-ya
Cinnamon tea	El té de canela	ˈte ðe kaˈnela	teh deh cah-neh-la
Jasmine tea	El té de jazmín	ˈte ðe xas̬ˈmĩn	teh deh has-meen

Alcoholic drinks and cocktails in Spanish

If you really enjoy the nightlife, or may simply want to have a cocktail or two on your next trip, you’ll need to know how to order mixed alcoholic beverages and cocktails in Spanish. From Mexican margaritas to Puerto Rican piña coladas, there are plenty of tasty cocktails you can order next time you find yourself in a Spanish-speaking country and want to have some fun!

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Margarita	La margarita	maɾɣaˈɾita	mar-ga-ree-ta
Gin and tonic	El gin tonic	ˈxĩn toˈnik	yeen toh-neek
Sangria	La sangría	sãnˈɡɾia	san-gree-ah
Mojito	El mojito	moˈxito	mo-he-toe
Mimosa	La mimosa	miˈmosa	me-mo-sa
Old-fashioned	El old-fashioned	oldfasjoˈnɛð	old-fah-shon
Bloody Mary	La bloody mary	βloˈoði ˈmaɾi	bloody mary
Piña colada	La piña colada	ˈpiɲa koˈlaða	pee-nya coh-la-da
Tequila sunrise	El tequila sunrise	teˈkila sũnˈrise	teh-key-la sunrise
Daiquiri	El daiquiri	dai̯ˈkiɾi	dah-e-key-ree
Irish coffee	El café irlandés	kaˈfe i̯ɾlãnˈdes	ca-feh ir-lan-des
Carajillo	El carajillo	kaɾaˈxiʝo	ca-ra-he-yo
Martini	El martini	maɾˈtini	mar-tee-knee
Paloma	La paloma	paˈloma	pah-lo-mah

Beer in Spanish

Although most people would think of Germany or Belgium when they first think of beer, Hispanic countries are also beer production juggernauts. In fact, Corona is one of the top ten best-selling beers in the world and was created in Mexico City! So, consider learning how to order a beer in Spanish here, then trying out the local brews next time you travel through Latin America!

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
A beer	Una cerveza	sɛɾˈβesa	ser-veh-za
A beer can	Una cerveza en lata	sɛɾˈβesa ɛ̃n ˈlata	ser-veh-za ehn la-tah
A beer bottle	Una cerveza en botella	sɛɾˈβesa ɛ̃m boˈteʝa	ser-veh-za ehn boh-teh-yah
A 16oz serving of beer	Una media	ˈmeðja	meh-dee-ah
A pint of beer	Una pinta de cerveza	ˈpĩnta ðe sɛɾˈβesa	peen-tah deh ser-veh-za
Ale	La cerveza inglesa	sɛɾˈβesa ĩ̯nˈɡlesa	ser-veh-za een-gleh-za
Lager	La cerveza lager	sɛɾˈβesa laˈxɛɾ	ser-veh-za lah-ger
Stout	La cerveza stout	sɛɾˈβesa ˈstou̯t	ser-veh-za stout
Craft beer	La cerveza artesanal	sɛɾˈβesa aɾtesaˈnal	ser-veh-za ar-teh-sa-nal
Light beer	La cerveza clara	sɛɾˈβesa ˈklaɾa	ser-veh-za clah-ra
Dark beer	La cerveza oscura	sɛɾˈβesa osˈkuɾa	ser-veh-za os-coo-ra
Non-alcoholic beer	La cerveza sin alcohol	sɛɾˈβesa sin alkoˈol	ser-veh-za seen al-col
Low-carb beer	La cerveza baja en carbohidratos	sɛɾˈβesa ˈβaxa ɛ̃n kaɾβoiˈðɾatos	ser-veh-za ba-ha ehn cah-lo-ree-as
A small beer	La caña	ˈkaɲa	cah-nyah
Michelada	La michelada	miʧeˈlaða	me-che-la-da
Michelada with tomato juice	La michelada con clamato	miʧeˈlaða kõn klaˈmato	me-che-la-da con cla-ma-toe
Beer with lime juice and salt	La michelada cubana	miʧeˈlaða kuˈβana	me-che-la-da coo-bah-na

Wine in Spanish

Wine enthusiasts around the world already know that some of the best wine comes from Spanish-speaking countries. From Spain’s Rioja to Mexico’s Nebbiolo, Chile’s Cabernet Sauvignon, and Argentina's Malbec, you won’t have a shortage of excellent wine options next time you visit a Hispanic country.

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
White wine	El vino blanco	ˈβino ˈβlãnko	ve-no blahn-co
Champagne	La champaña	ʧãmˈpaɲa	cham-pa-nyah
Red wine	El vino tinto	ˈβino ˈtĩnto	ve-no teen-to
Rosé	El vino rosado	ˈβino roˈsaðo	ve-no ro-sa-doh
Green wine	El vino verde	ˈβino ˈβɛɾðe	ve-no ver-deh
Orange wine	El vino naranja	ˈβino naˈɾãnxa	ve-no na-ran-ha
Mulled wine	El vino caliente	ˈβino kaˈljɛ̃nte	ve-no cah-lee-en-teh
Sparkling wine	El vino espumoso	ˈβino ɛspuˈmoso	ve-no es-poo-mo-so
Prosecco	El prosecco	pɾoˈsek̚ko	pro-seh-coh
A glass of wine	Una copa de vino	ˈkopa ðe ˈβino	co-pa deh ve-no
A bottle of wine	Una botella de vino	βoˈteʝa ðe ˈβino	bo-teh-ya deh ve-no
Red wine mixed with sparkling water	Un tinto de verano	ˈtĩnto ðe βɛˈɾano	teen-toe deh veh-ra-no

Distilled liquor in Spanish

If you’re more into ordering your liquor straight-up, check out our table below to learn how to say different types of distilled liquor in Spanish. We’ve also included some local liquors in a later section, so keep reading to learn even more about liquor in Spanish!

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Whiskey	El güiski	ˈɣwiski	goo-is-key
Scotch	El escosés	ɛskoˈses	es-coh-sehs
Rum	El ron	ˈrõn	ron
Sake	El sake	ˈsake	sah-keh
Vodka	El vodka	ˈβoðka	vod-kah
Tequila	El tequila	teˈkila	teh-key-la
Gin	La ginebra	xiˈneβɾa	he-neh-bra
Cognac	El coñac	koˈɲak	coh-nyac
Bourbon	El borbón	βoɾˈβõn	bore-bon

National drinks of Spanish-speaking countries

You know what they say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans.” One of the best parts about traveling is getting to discover the local flavors, so if you’d like to get an early idea of what you can expect to drink when you visit your next Spanish-speaking country, check out the table below.

Country	English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Mexico	Tequila	El tequila	teˈkila	teh-key-la
Argentina	Mate	El mate	ˈmate	ma-teh
Bolivia	Chuflay	El chuflay	ʧuˈflai̯	cho-fla-e
Bolivia	Singani	El singani	sĩnˈɡani	seen-ga-nee
Chile	Pisco Sour	El pisco sour	ˈpisko ˈsou̯ɾ	pees-coe sour
Colombia	Aguardiente	El aguardiente	aɣwaɾˈðjɛ̃nte	ah-goo-ah-ar-dee-ehn-teh
Colombia	Coffee	El café	kaˈfe	cah-feh
Costa Rica	Imperial	El imperial	ĩmpɛˈɾjal	em-peh-re-al
Cuba	Cuba libre	La cuba libre	ˈkuβa ˈliβɾe	coo-bah lee-breh
Cuba	Mojito	El mojito	moˈxito	moh-he-toe
Cuba	Daiquiri	El daiquiri	dai̯ˈkiɾi	dah-e-key-re
Dominican Republic	Mama Juana	La mamajuana	mamaˈxwana	ma-ma-who-ah-na
Ecuador	Chicha	La Chicha	ˈʧiʧa	chee-cha
El Salvador	Pilsner	La pilsner	pils̬ˈnɛɾ	peels-ner
El Salvador	Champagne cola	La cola champaña	ˈkola ʧãmˈpaɲa	coh-la cham-pah-nyah
Guatemala	Gallo	La gallo	ˈɣaʝo	gah-yo
Honduras	Pinol	El piñol	piˈɲol	pee-nyol
Nicaragua	Macuá	El macuá	maˈkwa	mah-coo-ah
Panama	Seco Herrerano	El Seco Herrerano	ˈseko ɛrɛˈɾano	seh-co eh-reh-ra-no
Paraguay	Mate	El mate	ˈmate	ma-teh
Peru	Pisco sour	El pisco sour	ˈpisko ˈsou̯ɾ	pees-coe sour
Peru	Inca cola	La inca kola	ˈĩnka ˈkola	een-ca co-la
Puerto Rico	Pina colada	La piña colada	ˈpiɲa koˈlaða	pee-nyah co-la-da
Uruguay	Mate	El mate	ˈmate	ma-teh
Venezuela	Rum	El ron	ˈrõn	ron

Drink-related verbs

On top of knowing how to say beverage types in Spanish, you’ll also need to know some related verbs in order to get by. For example, you’ll need a way to let your friends know when you need a drink, so you’ll want to know how to say that you’re thirsty in Spanish. Here are some useful drink-related verbs in Spanish.

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
To drink	Tomar	toˈmaɾ	toh-mar
To be thirsty	Tener sed	teˈnɛɾ ˈsɛð	teh-ner sehd
To be potable	Ser potable	ˈsɛɾ poˈtaβle	ser poh-ta-bleh
To be drunk	Estar borracho	ɛsˈtaɾ βoˈraʧo	es-tar bo-ra-cho
To be tipsy	Estar un poco borracho	ɛsˈtaɾ ũm ˈpoko βoˈraʧo	es-tar oon po-co bo-ra-cho
To order	Pedir	peˈðiɾ	peh-deer
To want	Querer	kɛˈɾɛɾ	keh-rer
To pour	Servir	sɛɾˈβiɾ	ser-veer
To boil	Hervir	ɛɾˈβiɾ	air-veer
To dilute	Diluir	diˈlwiɾ	dee-loo-eer
To dissolve	Disolver	disolˈβɛɾ	dee-sol-ver
To spill	Derramar	dɛraˈmaɾdɛraˈmaɾ	deh-ra-mar

​​Other important drink-related vocab

On top of drinks and drink-related verbs, you’ll also find it handy to learn the vocabulary around drinks. For example, is there a difference between a regular glass for water and a wine glass? Check out the table below to learn the difference between these two and other important drink-related vocab.

English	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Cup	El vaso	ˈβaso	va-so
Mug	La taza	ˈtasa	ta-za
Glass	El vaso	ˈβaso	va-so
Wine glass	La copa de vino	ˈkopa ðe ˈβino	co-pa deh vee-no
Pint glass	La pinta	ˈpĩnta	peen-ta
Sippy cup (kids)	La taza de entrenamiento	ˈtasa ðɛ ɛ̃ntɾenaˈmjɛ̃nto	ta-za deh ehn-treh-na-me-ehn-toe
Plastic cup	El vaso de plástico	ˈβaso ðe ˈplastiko	vah-so deh plas-tee-co
Disposable cup	El vaso desechable	ˈβaso ðeseˈʧaβle	vah-so des-eh-cha-bleh
Straw	El popote / La paja	poˈpote | la ˈpaxa	po-po-teh / pah-ha
Cheers!	¡Salud!	saˈluð ‖	sa-lood
With ice	Con hielo	kõn ˈɟʝelo	kon e-eh-lo
Without ice	Sin hielo	sĩn ˈɟʝelo	seen e-eh-lo
Bottle	La botella	βoˈteʝa	bo-teh-ya
Pitcher / jug	La jarra	ˈxara	ha-rah
Can	La lata	ˈlata	la-ta
A shot	Un shot	ˈsot	shot
Wine glass	La copa	ˈkopa	ko-pah

Where to go out for a drink in Spanish-speaking countries

Going out for a drink in Spanish-speaking countries is much easier than you’d think–and perhaps even more exciting, too! You’ll find all the typical options for getting drinks, such as bars, restaurants, coffee shops, tea houses, and even street vendors that can help you quench your thirst!

1. Bars

Spanish-speaking countries have some of the best bars in the world. In fact, two of the five best bars in the world are located in a Spanish-speaking country! Make sure to indulge in some of the most highly-acclaimed cocktails in the world next time you visit one of these countries!

Plus, there are some unique drinking experiences in Hispanic countries that you likely won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world. Keep reading to learn all about Spanish tapas and Mexican tequila.

How to order tapas like a true Spaniard

If you’ve ever been to a bar in Spain before, you’ve probably seen the delight of tapas in action. Otherwise, you’ve probably heard of these bite-sized snacks somewhere in your home country. But how do tapas work in Spain?

Keep the following tapas rules in mind to order tapas like a true Spaniard:

• You will normally get complimentary tapas any time you order a drink at a restaurant or bar.
• Tapas can come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from a handful of olives to some slices of jamón serrano.
• Some tapas are individual while others may come in larger plates meant to be shared amongst the table.
• You can order tapas from the waiter, but you may be charged for them.
• Some bars and restaurants will have a tapas menu that you can order off of.
• Tapas are served anytime drinks are served!

So there you have it, now you know how you order drinks with tapas like a true pro!

Ways to drink tequila like a true Mexican

If you enjoy drinking, you’ve probably had a margarita before, or perhaps even a shot of tequila. However, did you know that these are not the most common ways Mexicans drink tequila? In fact, the most popular ways to drink tequila in Mexico are usually quite uncommon in the United States and other countries!

Of course, the margarita was invented in Mexico, although its origins are disputed from Ensenada to Tijuana to Juarez. Regardless, it’s not the drink of choice of the Mexican people–not by a longshot. You can still order a margarita if you’d like, though, as everyone knows what they are. Keep reading if you’d like to order something a bit more authentic next time you’re in Mexico!

Here are some of the most common ways Mexican people drink tequila:

English description	Spanish name	IPA	Pronunciation
Tequila served in a tall shot glass. It is sipped, not taken as a shot.	El tequila en caballito	teˈkila ɛ̃n kaβaˈʝito	teh-key-la ehn ca-ba-yee-toe
Three tall shot glasses: one with tequila, one with lime juice, and one with sangrita. You take a small sip of each one.	Una banderita	βãndɛˈɾita	ban-deh-re-ta
Two tall shot glasses: one with tequila and one with sangrita. Sangrita is a non-alcoholic drink made from a blend of spices.	El tequila con sangrita	teˈkila kõn sãnˈɡɾita	teh-key-la con sal
Tequila with lime juice and salt	El tequila con limón y sal	teˈkila kõn liˈmon i ˈsal	teh-key-la cohn lee-mon e sal
Tequila served in a cognac glass. Usually reserved for high-end tequilas.	El tequila en copa coñaquera	teˈkila ɛ̃n ˈkopa koɲaˈkɛɾa	teh-key-la ehn co-pa co-nyah-keh-ra
Tequila served in a champagne flute. Usually reserved for ultra-high-end tequilas.	El tequila en copa de champaña	teˈkila ɛ̃n ˈkopa ðe ʧãmˈpaɲa	teh-key-la ehn co-pa deh cham-pah-nyah
Tequila cocktail made with grapefruit juice, lime juice, salt, and club soda.	La paloma	paˈloma	pa-lo-ma

Most famous bars in Spanish-speaking countries

Again, Spanish-speaking countries are world-renowned for their high-quality mixology and drinks. Each country has its own specialties, so you should try to visit the most famous bar in the country as you travel through the Hispanic countries!

Country	Name	Location
Spain	Paradiso	Barcelona
Mexico	Licorería Limantour	Mexico City
Guatemala	Shakespeare’s Pub	Guatemala City
Nicaragua	Reef	Managua
El Salvador	Republik Bar	San Salvador
Honduras	Frank’s Cigar Bar	Roatan
Costa Rica	Jazz Café San Pedro	San José
Panama	La Rana Dorada	Panama City
Cuba	La Bodeguita del Medio	Havana
Dominican Republic	Onno’s Zona Colonial	Santo Domingo
Puerto Rico	La Factoría	San Juan
Colombia	Alquímico	Cartagena
Venezuela	Juan Sebastián Bar	Caracas
Ecuador	Finn McCool’s Irish Pub	Quito
Peru	Ayahuasca	Lima
Bolivia	Sir Pieper	Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Paraguay	Paseo Carmelitas	Asunción
Chile	La Piojera	Santiago
Argentina	Florería Atlántico	Buenos Aires
Uruguay	Punta Madre	Montevideo
Equatorial Guinea	L’Attelier	Malabo

2. Restaurants

Of course, most restaurants in Spanish-speaking countries are well-equipped to provide any drinks you may need along with your meal. However, if all you want is a drink, a restaurant may not be the best place for that. Some restaurants will allow customers to simply have a cocktail or soft drink without ordering meals, but many will expect all guests to order some food.

You should always double-check with the host before you’re seated to make sure they’re okay with serving you only drinks!

3. Coffee shops

Coffee culture is very strong all across Latin America, so you should definitely learn how to order coffee in Spanish here. Some of the world’s best coffee is produced in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America, so there’s no surprise that Spanish-speaking countries will have a strong coffee culture.

No matter where you are, you’ll be able to find most of the typical coffee drinks in any coffee shop in a Spanish-speaking country. However, each country will have some local specialties that are definitely worth trying.

Special coffee beverages in Spanish-speaking countries

If you don’t come from a Spanish-speaking country, you should definitely try some of the local specialty coffee drinks next time you find yourself in a Hispanic region. Many of these you may already be familiar with, although some may be completely new to you!

Country	English explanation	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Spain	A single shot of espresso. Nothing else.	El café solo	kaˈfe ˈsolo	ca-feh so-lo
All Spanish-speaking countries	The black coffee most Americans are used to.	El café americano	kaˈfe amɛɾiˈkano	ca-feh ah-meh-re-ca-no
All Spanish-speaking countries	The black coffee most Americans are used to, with milk.	El café americano con leche	kaˈfe amɛɾiˈkano kõn ˈleʧe	ca-feh ah-meh-re-ca-no con leh-che
All Spanish-speaking countries	A shot of espresso mixed with equal parts warm milk.	El café cortado	kaˈfe koɾˈtaðo	ca-feh core-ta-doh
Spain	Half coffee, half condensed milk.	El café bombón	kaˈfe βõmˈbõn	ca-feh bom-bon
Cuba	A shot of espresso sweetened with demerara sugar.	El cafecito	kafeˈsito	ca-feh-see-toe
Cuba	A larger pitcher with up to six cafecitos in it, usually meant to be shared.	La colada	koˈlaða	co-la-da
Colombia	Sweetened black coffee.	Un tinto / tintico	ˈtĩnto / tĩnˈtiko	teen-toe / teen-tee-toe
Colombia	Sweetened black coffee with sugar.	Un pintadito	pĩntaˈðito	peen-ta-dee-toe
Mexico	Black coffee boiled with spices like clove, cinnamon, and piloncillo.	El café de olla	kaˈfe ðe ˈoʝa	ca-feh deh la oh-ya
Argentina	A double espresso in a short glass.	Un café en jarrito	kaˈfe ɛ̃n xaˈrito	ca-feh ehn ha-re-toe
Argentina	An espresso cup with foamed milk and just a touch of espresso.	Una lágrima	ˈlaɣɾima	la-gree-ma
Perú	Drip coffee prepared in a special device with a double chamber.	El café pasado	kaˈfe paˈsaðo	ca-feh pa-sa-do
Costa Rica	Drip coffee prepared with a special “chorreador.”	El café chorreado	kaˈfe ʧoreˈaðo	ca-feh cho-reh-ah-do

4. Tea houses

Tea is widely popular in Spanish-speaking countries, so you’ll be able to find plenty of places to get your tea fix wherever you go. Tea is especially popular in South America, where many people partake in the culture of yerba mate, a caffeine-rich tea infusion that is a part of daily life for most.

How to drink mate like a true Argentine

To drink mate, you will first need to source some dried yerba mate leaves as well as a mate container. If you’re in any of the Southern Cone countries, you should be able to find both very easily at convenience stores and supermarkets. Otherwise, you can easily order them online wherever you are.

Here’s how to prepare mate once you’ve sourced the necessary materials:

1. Heat up water but don’t bring it to a boil. It should be hotter than lukewarm but not hot enough to be boiling.
2. Add the yerba mate to your mate container until it's full about ¾ of the way.
3. Cover the mouth of your mate container with your hand and shake briefly. This is so the mate dust sticks to your hand, which you can then wash away.
4. OPTIONAL: Add two tablespoons of sugar to your mate to make your first drink less bitter.
5. Pour the hot water into your container until it’s full.
6. Cover the top part of your straw and introduce it into your container without stirring. You don’t ever want to stir your mate!

And there you have it, that’s how to drink yerba mate like a true Argentine!

Check out the following YouTube video if you’d like a visual demonstration on how to prepare your mate!

➤ COMO PREPARAR un MATE (CEBAR)

5. Convenience stores

As you can expect, convenience stores are great places to find all kinds of beverages in Spanish-speaking countries. Particularly in Latin America, you’ll also find many informal bodegas that carry a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It may even seem like there is an over-abundance of beverages, as you’ll be able to find something almost anywhere you look!

6. Street vendors

If convenience stores weren’t enough, there are also plenty of street vendors all over Latin America that will help you find drinks very conveniently. From coffee carts to fresh coconut water stands and even mobile juice stations, you’ll be able to find plenty of drinks on the street!

Keep in mind that cash is still very prevalent in most Latin American countries, so most street vendors will only take cash. It can be a good idea to bring some cash with you anytime you go out in case you run into a street vendor and want to buy yourself a drink.

Popular drinks in Spanish-speaking countries

Again, traveling is one of the best ways to train your taste buds to enjoy an even wider variety of flavors. Each country will have its own unique drinks, so you’ll be able to find something unique no matter where you go! Below is a list of the most popular drink in each Spanish-speaking country.

Country	English explanation	Spanish	IPA	Pronunciation
Spain	Wine-based beverage with fruits and spices.	La sangría	sãnˈɡɾia	san-gree-ah
Mexico	Tequila-based cocktail with grapefruit juice and lime.	La paloma	paˈloma	pa-lo-ma
Guatemala	Guatemalan beer brand Gallo.	La cerveza Gallo	sɛɾˈβesa ˈɣaʝo	ser-veh-za ga-yo
Nicaragua	Fresh tropical juices.	Los jugos	ˈxuɣos	who-gos
El Salvador	Refreshing non-alcoholic drink made from morro, spices, cocoa, sesame, and more.	La horchata de morro	oɾˈʧata ðe ˈmoro	or-cha-ta deh mo-ro
Honduras	Beverage made from roasted white corn.	El pinol	piˈnol	pee-nol
Costa Rica	Coffee is Costa Rica’s most popular drink	El café	kaˈfe	ca-feh
Panama	Distilled liquor usually served with milk over ice.	El seco	ˈseko	seh-co
Cuba	Rum-based cocktail with rum and sugar.	El mojito	moˈxito	mo-he-toe
Dominican Republic	Refreshing blend of milk, orange juice, sugar, and ice.	El morir soñado	moˈɾiɾ soˈɲaðo	mo-reer so-nyan-doh
Puerto Rico	Refreshing blended cocktail made of coconut cream, pineapple juice, and white rum.	La piña colada	ˈpiɲa koˈlaða	pee-nyah co-la-da
Colombia	Made from the exotic Colombian citrus lulo with ice, water, and sugar.	La lulada	luˈlaða	loo-la-da
Venezuela	Venezuelans are heavy coffee drinkers, particularly of espresso.	El espresso	ɛsˈpɾɛsso	es-preh-so
Ecuador	Beverage made from roasted white corn.	El pinol	piˈnol	pee-nol
Peru	Distilled alcoholic drink made from grapes.	El pisco	ˈpisko	pees-co
Bolivia	Warm cocktail made with singani, tea, cinnamon, and lime.	El té con té	ˈte kõn ˈte	teh con teh
Paraguay	Iced herbal tea steeped in cold water.	El tereré	tɛɾɛˈɾe	teh-teh-reh
Chile	Sweet, cold drink made with dried peaches and cinnamon.	El mote con huesillo	ˈmote kon weˈsiʝo	mo-teh con ooh-eh-see-yo
Argentina	Tea made from the yerba mate plant.	El mate	ˈmate	ma-teh
Uruguay	Iced wine drink made with fruits.	El clericó	klɛɾiˈko	cleh-ree-co
Equatorial Guinea	Also known as African tea, this rooibos tea is very common in Equatorial Guinea.	El osang	oˈsãnɡ	oh-sang

Phrases and idioms about drinking in Spanish

If you’re already at or approaching the intermediate Spanish level, you’ve probably noticed that there are many phrases and idioms in Spanish. Knowing how to talk about drinks in Spanish will help you understand many phrases and idioms involving drinks. And, if you’ve studied your drinks very well, using one of the phrases below is sure to impress any native speaker!

English translation	Spanish phrase	IPA	Pronunciation	Meaning
Never say you won’t drink from this water.	Nunca digas de esta agua no beberé.	ˈnũnka ˈðiɣas̬ ðe ˈɛsta ˈaɣwa ˈno βeβɛˈɾe	noon-ca dee-gas deh es-ta ah-goo-ah no beh-beh-reh	Never say never.
If you’re not going to drink from said water, you should let it run.	Agua que no has de beber… déjala correr.	ˈaɣwa ˈke ˈno ˈas̬ ðe βeˈβɛɾ ˈdexala koˈrɛɾ	ah-goo-ah keh no as deh beh-ber deh-ha-la co-rer	Don’t get involved in things that aren’t your business.
The drop that made the drink spill.	La gota que derramó el vaso.	la ˈɣota ˈke ðɛraˈmo ɛl ˈβaso	La go-ta keh deh-ra-mo el va-so	The final straw
Every now and then, life drinks coffee with me.	De vez en cuando la vida toma conmigo café.	de ˈβes ɛ̃n ˈkwãndo la ˈβiða ˈtoma kõmˈmiɣo kaˈfe	deh ves ehn coo-ahn-do la vee-da toe-ma con-me-go ca-feh	Life can be calm and pleasant sometimes.
A meal without wine is like a day without sun.	Una comida sin vino es como un día sin sol.	ˈuna koˈmiða sĩm ˈbino ˈɛs ˈkomo ũ̯n ˈdia sĩn ˈsol	oo-na co-me-da seen vee-no es co-mo oon dee-ah seen sol	A glass of wine is customary in every meal in many Hispanic countries!
Alcohol won’t solve any of your problems, but neither will milk.	El alcohol no resuelve ningún problema, pero tampoco lo hace la leche.	ɛl alkoˈol ˈno reˈswɛlβe nĩnˈɡũm pɾoˈβlema | ˈpɛɾo tãmˈpoko lo ˈase la ˈleʧe	elle al-col no reh-soo-elle-veh neen-goon pro-bleh-ma pear-oh tam-po-co lo ah-seh la leh-che	Might as well have a drink if you’re dealing with problems!
If you came to this world and don’t drink wine, then what did you come for?	El que a este mundo vino y no toma vino… entonces a qué vino.	ɛl ˈke a ˈɛste ˈmũndo ˈβino i̯ ˈno ˈtoma ˈβino ɛ̃nˈtõnses a ˈke ˈβino	elle keh ah es-teh moon-do vee-no e no toe-ma vee-no ehn-ton-sehs ah keh vee-no	Again, wine can be incredibly important in many Spanish-speaking countries.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.	Si la vida te da limones… hazte una limonada.	si la ˈβiða te ˈða liˈmones ˈaste ˈuna limoˈnaða	see la vee-da teh da lee-mo-nes as-teh oo-na lee-mo-na-da	When life gives you lemons…

Never be thirsty again 

Whew! You’ve now learned over 160 different beverages in Spanish, plus ten different ways to order beverages in Spanish! Though you won’t be able to memorize all of those drinks in a matter of days, the best way to slowly learn is through practice. So, go out and enjoy your favorite beverage to become a master of Spanish drinks.

And if your thirst for knowledge isn’t quenched yet, you should check out our Spanish blog. We regularly publish all kinds of Spanish-learning resources that are always available for free!

We hope you enjoyed this article, but most importantly, we hope you’re enjoying your favorite drink right now. ¡Salud!