bebida fuerte
/bebida fweɾte/from spelling rules
In Spanish, strong drink is bebida fuerte.
bebida fuerte is used to describe an alcoholic beverage that has a high concentration of alcohol.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bebida, meaning drink or beverage and fuerte, meaning strong.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word cubata refers specifically to a mixed drink with strong alcohol, such as rum and coke. In Argentina, fernet is a popular, strong alcoholic drink made with herbs. For an informal way to say a strong sip or a strong drink, you can use trago fuerte.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in bebidas fuertes.
How do you pronounce it?
/bebida fweɾte/
Did you know?
- Ordering a bebida fuerte in a Spanish bar might actually lead to confusion, as locals are much more likely to request a specific spirit or use the term copa to denote a measured alcoholic serving.
- The word fuerte shares a deep linguistic root with the word 'fort', as both derive from the Proto-Indo-European root for a fortified place.
- The informal term trago fuerte uses the word trago, which literally refers to a single 'swallow' or 'gulp'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me pones un trago fuerte, por favor?Can I have a strong drink, please?
- Esa bebida fuerte tiene mucho alcohol.That strong drink has a lot of alcohol.
Example conversation
María and Javier are at a restaurant looking at the menu.
- MaríaJavier, ¿quieres pedir una bebida fuerte?Javier, do you want to order a strong drink?
- JavierNo, gracias. Prefiero algo sin alcohol.No, thank you. I prefer something without alcohol.
- MaríaEstá bien, yo pediré una bebida fuerte.That is fine, I will order a strong drink.
- JavierPerfecto, María. Yo pediré un agua.Perfect, María. I will order a water.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bebida, fuerte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
