beber alcohol
/bebeɾ alkool/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "drinking alcohol" is expressed as beber alcohol.
The phrase describes the act of consuming beverages that contain alcohol. For example, tomar alcohol is also a way to say "drinking alcohol" and tomar copas refers to having a few drinks or enjoying a round of alcoholic beverages. In casual settings, the colloquial verb chupar can be used to mean drinking alcohol heavily or having a drink, while the informal phrase echarse un trago means to have a drink or take a shot.
Which one should you use?
The verb beber alone is often used colloquially to imply drinking alcoholic beverages in many contexts. In contrast, beber alcohol is specific. For different registers, you might use consumir alcohol for a formal tone or ingerir alcohol as a technical or medical term used to refer to the ingestion of alcohol.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of 'drinking alcohol' (the gerund), use bebiendo alcohol.
Did you know?
- The term alcohol has its roots in the Arabic word for 'kohl', a dark powder used for eyeliner in the Middle East.
- If you say él bebe or ella bebe without mentioning a specific drink, you are not just saying they are 'drinking', but might be implying that the person is an alcoholic.
- The verb chupar, which literally means 'to suck', is used as a slang term in several countries to describe binge drinking or heavy alcohol consumption.
Examples in context
- Tom no puede dejar de beber alcohol.Tom cannot stop drinking alcohol.This sentence is useful for showing how to use beber alcohol in a negative context.Tatoeba #6035313 by Adelpa, translation #6035311 by Adelpa
- No deberías tomar alcohol si vas a conducirYou shouldn't drink alcohol if you are going to drive
- El consumo de alcohol es muy común en las celebracionesThe consumption of alcohol is very common at celebrations
- El doctor le advirtió que no debe ingerir alcohol mientras toma ciertos medicamentosThe doctor warned him not to ingest alcohol while taking certain medications
- ¿Quieres salir a tomar unas copas esta noche?Do you want to go out for drinks tonight?
- ¡Vamos a echarnos unos tragos y celebrar juntos!Let's have some drinks and celebrate together!
- Beber alcohol es malo para la salud.Drinking alcohol is bad for your health.
- No me gusta la idea de beber alcohol en el trabajo.I do not like the idea of drinking alcohol at work.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing their new health goals at a café.
- Daniel¿Quieres dejar de beber alcohol este mes?Do you want to stop drinking alcohol this month?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, quiero mejorar mi dieta.Yes, Daniel, I want to improve my diet.
- DanielEs una buena decisión para ti.It is a good decision for you.
- MaríaGracias, voy a esforzarme mucho.Thank you, I am going to try very hard.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alcohol, beber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
