What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bebidas, which means drinks or beverages and alcohólicas, which means alcoholic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal contexts, particularly when emphasizing the intoxicating effects of the drinks, you can use bebidas embriagantes. In casual conversation, people often refer to these drinks simply as alcohol, such as in the phrase No quiero alcohol. On the informal side, you can use tragos to refer to alcoholic drinks in general or copas to refer to a drink served in a glass or a cocktail. In Mexico, the slang term chelas is specifically used to refer to beers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Chelas is a slang term used in Mexico to refer to beers. Copas is an informal term used in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries to refer to a drink served in a glass or a cocktail.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of this phrase is bebida alcohólica, where both the noun and the adjective are singular. To make the phrase plural, both the noun bebida and the adjective alcohólica must take the plural suffix '-s', resulting in bebidas alcohólicas.
Did you know?
- The word trago comes from the verb tragar, which means 'to swallow'. In many countries, calling a drink a trago emphasizes the act of consuming the liquid rather than the beverage itself.
- While copas literally means 'glasses', saying salir de copas means to go out for drinks with friends, regardless of what the glass is actually made of.
- In Mexico, chelas is so ubiquitous that it is often used in signage and advertisements, moving beyond simple street slang into common commercial language.
Examples in context
- No vendemos bebidas alcohólicas ni cigarrillos a menores de dieciocho años.We do not sell alcoholic drinks or cigarettes to people under the age of eighteen.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a prohibition on selling bebidas alcohólicas to minors.Tatoeba #7935732 by Seael, translation #4344045 by EmperorCharlesII
- Ziri tomó bebidas alcohólicas.Ziri drank alcoholic drinks.This sentence is useful for describing the action of drinking bebidas alcohólicas.Tatoeba #11067444 by Luornu, translation #10210541 by Amastan
- En el evento, se servirán bebidas alcohólicas.Alcoholic drinks will be served at the event.
- Es importante controlar el consumo de bebidas embriagantes.It's important to control the consumption of alcoholic drinks.
- El bar ofrece una amplia selección de licores.The bar offers a wide selection of spirits.
- ¿Quieres una chela bien fría?Do you want a nice cold beer?
- Esta fiesta tiene buenos tragos.This party has good drinks.
- Maria disfruta de una copa de vino tinto.Maria is enjoying a glass of red wine.
- En la fiesta no había bebidas alcohólicas.There were no alcoholic drinks at the party.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing the rules for a party.
- DanielNo vamos a servir bebidas alcohólicas en la fiesta.We are not going to serve alcoholic drinks at the party.
- ElenaMe parece bien, es más seguro así.I think that's fine, it's safer that way.
- DanielEntonces compraré jugos y refrescos.In that case, I will buy juices and sodas.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo traigo los snacks, Daniel.Perfect, I will bring the snacks, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
