Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bebida deportiva | /bebida depoɾtiba/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| bebida isotónica | /bebida isotonika/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| bebida rehidratante | /bebida ɾeidɾatante/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
A sports drink is a beverage intended to replenish the body's water and energy levels during exercise. You can also refer to this concept as bebida de deportistas, which translates literally to 'drink of athletes'.
Which one should you use?
While bebida deportiva is a general term for any sports drink, bebida isotónica is the more precise technical term used to describe drinks that match the body's fluid concentration. Additionally, bebida rehidratante can be used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the term bebida isotónica is frequently used to describe sports drinks.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because bebida is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine article la when referring to a specific sports drink, as in la bebida deportiva. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in bebidas deportivas.
Did you know?
- In medical or pharmacy settings, the word suero, which usually means 'serum', is the standard term for oral rehydration drinks.
- The brand name Gatorade is frequently used as a generic trademark in Spanish to refer to any type of isotonic drink.
- In Spain, you might hear the term bebida energética used interchangeably with bebida deportiva, even though energy drinks contain stimulants and isotonic drinks do not.
Examples in context
- ¿Me podría traer una bebida deportiva, por favor?Could you bring me a sports drink, please?
- ¿Tienes alguna bebida deportiva a mano?Do you have any sports drink on hand?
- Compré una bebida deportiva para el gimnasio.I bought a sports drink for the gym.
- ¿Prefieres agua o una bebida deportiva?Do you prefer water or a sports drink?
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are finishing a run at the park.
- Daniel¿Tienes una bebida deportiva en tu mochila?Do you have a sports drink in your backpack?
- ElenaSí, tengo una para ti, Daniel.Yes, I have one for you, Daniel.
- DanielMuchas gracias, Elena, la necesito.Thank you so much, Elena, I need it.
- ElenaDe nada, ¡bebe mucha agua también!You're welcome, drink plenty of water too!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sports drink” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
