¿bebes?
The English phrase "do you drink" is translated into Spanish as ¿bebes?
This phrase is used to ask if someone consumes liquids, such as water or other beverages. In Spanish, asking ¿bebes? without a direct object often implies a general habit of drinking a specific type of liquid or, in certain contexts, alcohol.
Which one should you use?
The form ¿bebes? is used when speaking to a friend, peer or someone younger. If you are addressing a group of people, use the plural form ¿beben? To ask specifically about alcohol, you might hear the informal ¿Tomas alcohol? or the formal ¿Usted bebe alcohol?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¿bebes? is the informal singular second-person conjugation of the verb beber. To ask the question in a formal context, use the third-person singular form ¿bebe usted? When asking a group, use the plural form ¿beben?
Did you know?
- The verb beber comes from the Latin bibere, which is the same root that gave English the word 'imbibe'.
- While beber means 'to drink', the verb tomar literally means 'to take'. In many Spanish-speaking regions, people 'take' their water or coffee rather than 'drinking' it.
- In Spanish, asking ¿bebes? without specifying a drink is almost always understood as asking if someone drinks alcohol. If you actually mean water or juice, you must name the beverage to avoid a misunderstanding.
Examples in context
- ¿Bebes?Do you drink?This example is useful for seeing the short form ¿bebes? in a simple question.Tatoeba #6694266 by arh, translation #2782057 by CK
- Disculpe, señor. ¿Usted bebe alcohol?Excuse me, sir. Do you drink alcohol?
- Oye, ¿tomas alcohol?Hey, do you drink alcohol?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
