Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pub | /ˈpab/ /ˈpob/ |
|
| bar | /ˈbaɾ/ | masculine |
| taberna | /taˈbeɾna/ | feminine |
While pub refers specifically to British-style establishments, the word bar is the much more common and general term used throughout Spanish-speaking countries for any place that serves alcohol. You may also use cervecería when referring specifically to a brewery or a specialized beer bar.
Which one should you use?
pub is used for British-style establishments, whereas bar is the standard, general term for an establishment serving alcohol. taberna is an archaic or literary term for a tavern and is less common in modern daily conversation than bar or pub.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term tasca is used to denote a traditional, small bar where people gather for drinks and light snacks. In Mexico, cantina is a popular term for a traditional establishment where people gather for drinks.
How does it change in a sentence?
The loanword pub is a masculine noun, used as el pub. bar is also a masculine noun, and taberna is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpab/
Did you know?
- While bar is used globally, in Mexico a cantina historically had strict rules, such as prohibiting the entry of women until the mid-20th century.
- While you might call a place a pub in English, if you use the Spanish word barra, you are actually referring to the physical 'bar' counter itself.
- In many traditional Spanish bares, customers do not sit at tables but stand and lean against the barra while drinking.
Examples in context
- ¿Has venido a este pub antes?Have you been to this pub before?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has visited a specific pub before.Tatoeba #1497596 by leoruilova, translation #719447 by CM
- Apenas termina el trabajo, él se va derecho al bar.As soon as work is over, he makes a beeline for the pub.This sentence shows how someone might head straight to the bar after work.Tatoeba #1855293 by marcelostockle, translation #297018 by CS
- Tom escribió la canción que Mary cantó anoche en el pub.Tom wrote the song that Mary sang last night at the pub.This sentence provides an example of an event occurring at a pub.Tatoeba #1468334 by hayastan, translation #1092176 by CK
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding where to spend the evening.
- Sofía¿Quieres ir al pub nuevo?Do you want to go to the new pub?
- MateoSí, me parece bien, Sofía.Yes, that sounds good to me, Sofía.
- SofíaEs un pub muy tranquilo.It is a very quiet pub.
- MateoPerfecto, vamos ahora mismo.Perfect, let's go right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pub” translations and entries pub, bar, taberna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
