cerveza
/θeɾˈbeθa/feminine
Beer in Spanish is cerveza. Wiktionary also lists sersia and servatina.
Meaning: alcoholic drink made of malt (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cerveza | /θeɾˈbeθa/ /seɾˈbesa/ |
feminine |
| sersia | /seɾsja/ (from spelling rules) | |
| servatina | /seɾbatina/ (from spelling rules) | |
| birra | /ˈbira/ | feminine |
| servantina | /seɾbantina/ (from spelling rules) | Honduras, feminine |
| chela | /ˈt͡ʃela/ | feminine |
The primary way to refer to the alcoholic drink made of malt is cerveza. Other terms like birra, chela or servantina are used in specific social or geographic contexts.
Which one should you use?
While cerveza is the standard and most widely understood term, chela or birra are used in casual social settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Birra is an informal, colloquial way to say beer common in many Spanish-speaking countries. Chela is a common slang term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some parts of Central America, the term chela is used to refer to beer. In Honduras, the word servantina is a regional term for beer.
How does it change in a sentence?
Cerveza is a feminine noun, so it is used with the feminine article la (e.g., la cerveza).
How do you pronounce it?
/θeɾˈbeθa/
Did you know?
- In some regions, requesting a caña refers specifically to a small glass of draught cerveza rather than a bottle.
- The word birra entered Spanish through Italian and originally came from the German word Bier.
- A michelada is a popular drink in Mexico and Central America where cerveza is mixed with lime, salt, and various sauces.
Examples in context
- Esa es mi cerveza.That's my beer.This sentence shows how to identify ownership of a cerveza.Tatoeba #4999490 by don_ramon, translation #2251090 by CK
- ¿Qué tal una chela?What do you say to a beer?This sentence is a casual way to offer someone a chela.Tatoeba #4566714 by cueyayotl, translation #34837 by CK
- Tom no bebe cerveza.Tom doesn't drink beer.This sentence uses cerveza to describe a person's drinking habits.Tatoeba #1386612 by marcelostockle, translation #1026201 by CK
- Quisiera una cerveza, por favor.I would like a beer, please.
- Me gustaría probar una cerveza local.I would like to try a local beer.
- ¿Podría recomendarme una buena cerveza?Could you recommend me a good beer?
- ¿Vamos a tomar unas birras?Shall we grab some beers?
- Pásame una birra, por favor.Pass me a beer, please.
- Las birras están bien frías hoy.The beers are really cold today.
- 277 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are at a restaurant.
- María¿Quieres una cerveza, Javier?Do you want a beer, Javier?
- JavierSí, una cerveza fría sería perfecta.Yes, a cold beer would be perfect.
- MaríaYo pediré una también.I will order one too.
- JavierGracias, María.Thanks, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beer” translations and entries cerveza, birra, chela, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries birra, cerveza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
