Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sorber | /soɾˈbeɾ/ |
| libar | /liˈbaɾ/ |
The verb for sipping a drink slowly, one small mouthful at a time, is sorber. When you want to express the action of 'taking a sip' in a natural way, you should use the phrase dar un sorbo. The related masculine noun for a single mouthful of drink is sorbo.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to drinking small amounts, sorber is the standard verb used for humans. In contrast, libar is a specific term used in biological contexts to describe insects or animals sipping nectar or honey or it may be used in poetic and literary writing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund (present participle) of the verb sorber is sorbiendo, which corresponds to 'sipping'. The noun for a single sip, sorbo, is a masculine noun derived from the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/soɾˈbeɾ/
Did you know?
- While sorber means to sip, it is also the verb used for 'slurping'. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, making a loud noise while sipping a hot drink is not always considered as impolite as it is in English.
- The word libar shares a root with the Latin 'libatio', meaning a liquid offering poured out to a god. This explains why the word feels 'poetic' or 'sacred' when used for humans instead of insects.
- The phrase dar un sorbo literally translates to 'give a sip'. In Spanish, you do not 'take' a sip as you do in English, but rather 'give' one to yourself.
Examples in context
- ¿Me das un sorbo de tu refresco?Could I have a sip of your soda?
- ¡Prueba esto! Solo dale un sorbito.Try this! Just take a little sip.
- Ella prefiere sorber el té caliente.She prefers to sip the hot tea.
- Él comenzó a sorber su bebida con calma.He began to sip his drink calmly.
Example conversation
At a café, Daniel is drinking a very hot coffee.
- Lucía¿Está muy caliente el café, Daniel?Is the coffee very hot, Daniel?
- DanielSí, debo sorberlo con mucho cuidado.Yes, I must sip it very carefully.
- LucíaTen cuidado para no quemarte la lengua.Be careful not to burn your tongue.
- DanielGracias, Lucía, lo haré con calma.Thanks, Lucía, I will do it calmly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sip” translations and entries sorber, libar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
