tomar
Mexico, everyday
In Mexico the everyday verb for "drink" is tomar, as in ¿qué quieres tomar? Beber is also correct and sounds a bit more formal. It is also called echarse un trago.
Meaning: to take liquid into the body (verb)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| tomar | Mexico, everyday |
| beber | neutral |
| echarse un trago | colloquial |
Use tomar for water, coffee and any other drink. The noun for a drink is bebida, and an alcoholic one is a trago.
Which one should you use?
Tomar can mean to drink alcohol too, as in no tomo. For "have a drink" with friends, Mexicans say echarse un trago.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb tomar is regular, so it is tomo, tomas, toma and tomamos in the present.
Did you know?
- Agua de jamaica, a drink of hibiscus flowers, is one of the classic aguas frescas of Mexico.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué quieres tomar?What would you like to drink?
- Tomo mucha agua todos los días.I drink a lot of water every day.
- Vamos a echarnos un trago.Let us have a drink.
Example conversation
A waiter named Esteban takes the order from Clara and Beatriz in Oaxaca.
- EstebanBuenas noches, ¿qué desean tomar?Good evening, what would you like to drink?
- ClaraPara mí un agua de jamaica.An agua de jamaica for me.
- BeatrizYo quiero un café, por favor.I would like a coffee, please.
