You’re at a bar in Barcelona. The bartender asks what you want. You know the word for beer—cerveza—but then he rattles off “¿Caña, doble, tercio, o tubo?” and suddenly your confident “una cerveza, por favor” feels painfully inadequate. Welcome to Spanish beer culture, where ordering a cold one requires knowing more than just one word.
Spanish-speaking countries take their beer seriously, and they’ve developed rich vocabulary around it. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to order beer like a local, understand regional slang from chela to birra, and never accidentally order a pitcher when you wanted a small glass. Time to level up your bar game.
Quick Primer
The standard Spanish word for beer is la cerveza /la seɾˈβe.sa/. It’s feminine, so you say la cerveza fría /la seɾˈβe.sa ˈfɾi.a/ (the cold beer), not el cerveza frío. This matters when ordering—”una cerveza, por favor” works perfectly, but getting the gender wrong makes you sound like you just started learning yesterday.
Beer culture varies dramatically across Spanish-speaking countries. Spain has precise vocabulary for different glass sizes. Mexico invented spectacular slang terms. Argentina borrowed from Italian. Each region developed its own terms based on local drinking customs, immigrant influences, and linguistic creativity.
Here’s the key insight: just saying “una cerveza” marks you as a tourist. Locals specify size, temperature, and sometimes brand using shorthand that sounds natural only when you know the terms. Learning this vocabulary transforms you from obvious foreigner to someone who knows their way around a bar.
Basic Beer Vocabulary
Start with these essential terms that work everywhere Spanish is spoken.
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| la cerveza | /la seɾˈβe.sa/ | beer |
| una cerveza | /ˈu.na seɾˈβe.sa/ | a beer |
| dos cervezas | /dos seɾˈβe.sas/ | two beers |
| cerveza de barril | /seɾˈβe.sa ðe βaˈril/ | draft beer |
| cerveza de botella | /seɾˈβe.sa ðe boˈte.ʝa/ | bottled beer |
| cerveza artesanal | /seɾˈβe.sa aɾ.te.saˈnal/ | craft beer |
| cerveza fría | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈfɾi.a/ | cold beer |
| cerveza rubia | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈru.βja/ | light beer/lager |
| cerveza negra | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈne.ɣɾa/ | dark beer |
| la lata | /la ˈla.ta/ | can |
The phrase cerveza de barril means draft beer—literally “beer from the barrel.” Most Spanish bars serve draft beer by default, so asking for “una cerveza” usually gets you draft unless you specify otherwise. If you want bottled beer, specifically say cerveza de botella or just una botella.
Cerveza rubia literally translates to “blonde beer,” which sounds way more poetic than “lager.” The rubia refers to the light golden color. Occasionally you’ll hear people just say “una rubia,” and context tells you they mean beer, not a blonde woman. Spanish loves its double meanings.
Cerveza artesanal is the craft beer movement’s Spanish term. It’s everywhere now in cities like Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Barcelona. Craft breweries are cervecerías artesanales /seɾ.βe.seˈɾi.as aɾ.te.saˈna.les/, and the craft beer scene is vibrant across Latin America and Spain.
Spanish Beer Sizes: How to Order Like a Local
Spain gets specific about beer sizes. These terms vary by region but learning the main ones prevents confusion and makes you sound less like a lost tourist.
| Spanish | IPA | Size | English Equivalent |
| una caña | /ˈu.na ˈka.ɲa/ | 200ml | small glass |
| un tubo | /um ˈtu.βo/ | 330ml | tube glass |
| un doble | /un ˈdo.βle/ | 400ml | double |
| una jarra | /ˈu.na ˈxa.ra/ | 500ml+ | mug with handle |
| un tercio | /un ˈteɾ.sjo/ | 330ml bottle | third of a liter |
| un quinto | /uŋ ˈkin.to/ | 200ml bottle | fifth of a liter |
The caña is Spain’s default beer order. Walk into any Spanish bar and say “una caña” and you’ll get a small draft beer, perfectly sized to stay cold before you finish it. The word literally means “cane” or “reed,” but nobody thinks about that—it just means small beer.
A tubo gets its name from the tall, thin glass shape—like a tube. It’s about the size of a standard beer bottle but served from the tap. This is your middle-ground option when a caña feels too small but you don’t want a whole jarra.
Ordering un doble gives you double the amount of a caña. It’s straightforward math. If you want a mug with a handle rather than a regular glass, ask for una jarra. The handle makes it easier to hold, especially if your hands are cold or sweaty.
Regional variations exist. In the Basque Country, they call a small beer un zurito /un suˈɾi.to/. In Aragón, it’s un penalti /um peˈnal.ti/, presumably because the small glass looks like a penalty kick. In León, they say un corto /uŋ ˈkoɾ.to/ (a short one). Learning local terms impresses people wherever you travel.
Mexican Beer Slang
Mexico dominates beer slang creativity in the Spanish-speaking world. These terms feel authentically Mexican and spread throughout Latin America.
| Spanish | IPA | Meaning |
| una chela | /ˈu.na ˈtʃe.la/ | a beer |
| unas chelas | /ˈu.nas ˈtʃe.las/ | some beers |
| un cheve | /uŋ ˈtʃe.βe/ | a beer |
| una caguama | /ˈu.na kaˈɣwa.ma/ | 1-liter beer bottle |
| una ballena | /ˈu.na baˈʝe.na/ | large beer bottle |
| una helodia | /ˈu.na eˈlo.ðja/ | a cold beer |
| bien muerta | /bjen ˈmweɾ.ta/ | very cold |
Chela is the most popular Mexican slang for beer. The term supposedly comes from Mayan word “chel” meaning blue, which evolved to describe blonde people (blue eyes), which then connected to the golden color of beer. Etymology aside, chela is everywhere in Mexican Spanish. “¿Vamos por unas chelas?” (Wanna go get some beers?) sounds way more natural than “¿Vamos por unas cervezas?”
The word cheve is common in northern Mexico as a variation of chela. Both work fine, though chela is more widespread. Young people especially use these terms—asking your abuela if she wants unas chelas might get you a strange look.
A caguama is a one-liter beer bottle, named after the sea turtle (caguama) because the bottle shape supposedly resembles a turtle shell. It’s the perfect size for sharing with friends. Order “una caguama” at a convenience store and you’re buying the big bottle meant for multiple people. There’s even a brand that used the name Caguama for their beer.
The phrase bien muerta literally means “very dead” but refers to extremely cold beer. “Dame una chela bien muerta” means you want that beer ice-cold, almost frozen. Mexicans take beer temperature seriously—lukewarm beer is unacceptable.
Regional Beer Slang Around the Spanish-Speaking World
Every country developed unique beer terminology based on history, immigration patterns, and linguistic creativity.
| Country | Term | IPA | Meaning |
| Argentina/Spain | una birra | /ˈu.na ˈbi.ra/ | a beer |
| Colombia | una pola | /ˈu.na ˈpo.la/ | a beer |
| Ecuador | una biela | /ˈu.na ˈbje.la/ | a beer |
| Cuba | un lagarto | /um la.ˈɣaɾ.to/ | a beer |
| Panama | una pinta | /ˈu.na ˈpin.ta/ | a pint |
| Various | una fría | /ˈu.na ˈfɾi.a/ | a cold one |
Birra comes from Italian and appears in Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela—all countries with significant Italian immigration. “Vamos por unas birras” sounds completely natural in Buenos Aires. The Italian influence on Argentine Spanish goes deep, and beer vocabulary is just one example.
Colombia’s pola has a fascinating origin story. In 1910, Bavaria brewery created a beer called “La Pola” commemorating independence heroine Policarpa Salavarrieta. The beer’s popularity made pola synonymous with beer throughout Colombia. History turned into slang.
Ecuador uses biela, supposedly shortened from bien helada (very cold). Ecuadorians care enough about cold beer that they turned “very cold” into the word for beer itself. There’s even a beer brand called Biela now.
Cuba’s lagarto (lizard) sounds random until you learn it comes from “láguer,” the Cuban pronunciation of “lager.” The sound similarity created lagarto as slang. Cuban Spanish loves these phonetic word plays.
Saying una fría (a cold one) works across Latin America—Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Paraguay. Just like English speakers say “cold one,” Spanish speakers shortened cerveza fría to just fría. Context makes it clear you’re ordering beer, not requesting something refrigerated.
Beer Types and Styles
Craft beer culture exploded across Spanish-speaking countries, bringing specialized vocabulary for different beer styles.
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| cerveza rubia/lager | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈru.βja/ | lager/light beer |
| cerveza negra | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈne.ɣɾa/ | dark beer |
| cerveza roja | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈro.xa/ | red ale |
| cerveza de trigo | /seɾˈβe.sa ðe ˈtɾi.ɣo/ | wheat beer |
| IPA | /ˈi pe ˈa/ | IPA |
| cerveza clara | /seɾˈβe.sa ˈkla.ɾa/ | light/clear beer |
| cerveza oscura | /seɾˈβe.sa osˈku.ɾa/ | dark beer |
| cerveza sin alcohol | /seɾˈβe.sa sin alˈkol/ | non-alcoholic beer |
Most beer vocabulary translates directly. Cerveza de trigo is wheat beer—literally “beer of wheat.” Cerveza sin alcohol means non-alcoholic beer, useful when you want the taste without the buzz. The abbreviation IPA stays the same in Spanish, pronounced “ee-peh-ah.”
Spain has unique mixed beer drinks. Una clara /ˈu.na ˈkla.ɾa/ is beer mixed with lemon soda—refreshing and lower alcohol content. Order “una clara” and you’ll get this shandy-style drink. Some regions call it clara con limón to specify lemon, or clara con casera referring to a popular Spanish soda brand.
How to Order Beer in Spanish
These phrases cover every ordering situation from casual bars to fancy restaurants.
Basic ordering:
- Una cerveza, por favor /ˈu.na seɾˈβe.sa poɾ faˈβoɾ/ — A beer, please
- Dos cervezas, por favor /dos seɾˈβe.sas poɾ faˈβoɾ/ — Two beers, please
- Una caña, por favor /ˈu.na ˈka.ɲa poɾ faˈβoɾ/ — A small draft beer, please (Spain)
- Una chela bien fría /ˈu.na ˈtʃe.la bjen ˈfɾi.a/ — A really cold beer (Mexico)
Asking questions:
- ¿Qué cervezas tienen? /ke seɾˈβe.sas ˈtje.nen/ — What beers do you have?
- ¿Tienen cerveza artesanal? /ˈtje.nen seɾˈβe.sa aɾ.te.saˈnal/ — Do you have craft beer?
- ¿Cuál me recomiendas? /kwal me re.ko.ˈmjen.das/ — Which one do you recommend?
- ¿Tienen cerveza de barril? /ˈtje.nen seɾˈβe.sa ðe βaˈɾil/ — Do you have draft beer?
Temperature and specifications:
- Bien fría, por favor /bjen ˈfɾi.a poɾ faˈβoɾ/ — Very cold, please
- Con limón /kom liˈmon/ — With lime
- En botella /em boˈte.ʝa/ — In a bottle
- De barril /de βaˈril/ — On draft
The phrase “con limón” is huge in Mexico, where beer with lime is standard. Corona practically requires lime wedges. Saying “una cerveza con limón” ensures you get that garnish.
Bar Culture and Toasting
Beyond vocabulary, knowing drinking customs helps you fit in at Spanish-speaking bars.
The universal toast is ¡Salud! /saˈluð/, meaning “health.” Everyone clinks glasses, makes eye contact, and says “salud” before drinking. Skipping eye contact during the toast supposedly brings bad luck or seven years of bad sex, depending on who you ask. Better safe than sorry—make eye contact.
In Spain, bars often provide free tapas with drinks. Order a caña, get a small plate of food. This tradition varies by region—Andalusia and Granada are famous for generous free tapas, while Barcelona typically doesn’t do it. The free snacks are called tapas /ˈta.pas/, and they range from olives to elaborate small dishes.
Mexican drinking culture includes rounds. If someone says “la siguiente ronda va por mi cuenta” /la si.ˈɣjen.te ˈron.da βa poɾ mi ˈkwen.ta/, they’re buying the next round. The expectation is that others will reciprocate. Freeloading is frowned upon.
Argentine asados (barbecues) almost always involve beer. The phrase “traé unas birras” /tɾaˈe ˈu.nas ˈbi.ras/ means “bring some beers” in Argentine slang. Showing up to an asado with beer is standard courtesy.
Common Mistakes
English speakers make predictable errors when ordering beer in Spanish. Catch these early.
Saying “el cerveza” instead of “la cerveza” marks you as a beginner. Beer is feminine—always la, una, esa cerveza. The gender matters for adjectives too: fría, not frío.
Pronouncing cerveza with an English “v” sound doesn’t work. Spanish v sounds like English b: seɾˈβe.sa, not seɾˈve.sa. Your mouth barely changes between b and v in Spanish—they’re nearly identical sounds.
Asking for “una cerveza grande” technically works but sounds unnatural. Locals specify size using terms like doble, jarra, or tubo. “Grande” is vague—how big? Use the proper size vocabulary instead.
Forgetting por favor comes across as rude. Spanish culture values politeness in service interactions. Always add “por favor” when ordering anything. “Una cerveza” sounds abrupt; “una cerveza, por favor” sounds respectful.
Mini Dialogues
Here’s how beer vocabulary sounds in real bar conversations.
Dialogue 1: Ordering in Spain
Buenas tardes. ¿Qué te pongo?
/ˈbwe.nas ˈtaɾ.des ke te ˈpoŋ.go/
Good afternoon. What can I get you?
Una caña, por favor.
/ˈu.na ˈka.ɲa poɾ faˈβoɾ/
A small beer, please.
Ahora mismo. ¿Algo para picar?
/aˈo.ɾa ˈmis.mo ˈal.ɣo ˈpa.ɾa piˈkaɾ/
Right away. Anything to snack on?
Dialogue 2: Ordering in Mexico
¿Vamos por unas chelas?
/ˈβa.mos poɾ ˈu.nas ˈtʃe.las/
Should we go get some beers?
¡Órale! Yo quiero una bien muerta.
/ˈo.ɾa.le ʝo ˈkje.ɾo ˈu.na bjem ˈmweɾ.ta/
Yeah! I want a really cold one.
Perfecto. Compramos una caguama para compartir.
/peɾˈfek.to kom.ˈpɾa.mos ˈu.na kaˈɣwa.ma ˈpa.ɾa kom.paɾˈtiɾ/
Perfect. Let’s buy a liter bottle to share.
Quick Reference
Screenshot this for your next bar visit across the Spanish-speaking world.
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| la cerveza | /la seɾˈβe.sa/ | beer |
| una caña | /ˈu.na ˈka.ɲa/ | small draft beer (Spain) |
| una chela | /ˈu.na ˈtʃe.la/ | a beer (Mexico) |
| una birra | /ˈu.na ˈbi.ra/ | a beer (Argentina/Spain) |
| bien fría | /bjen ˈfɾi.a/ | very cold |
| de barril | /de βaˈril/ | draft/on tap |
| ¡Salud! | /saˈluð/ | Cheers! |
| la cuenta | /la ˈkwen.ta/ | the check |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
Make this vocabulary active with these quick exercises.
- Next time you see beer anywhere—grocery store, restaurant, advertisement—say the Spanish word out loud. “Cerveza.” Make it automatic. Bonus points for adding an adjective: “cerveza fría,” “cerveza negra.”
- Watch a five-minute video of people ordering drinks in Spanish. YouTube has tons of Spanish bar scenes. Listen for beer vocabulary. Notice the rhythm and casual phrases bartenders use.
- Practice the toast. Stand up, raise an imaginary glass, say “¡Salud!” while making eye contact with yourself in the mirror. Yes, it’s weird. That’s why it works—you’ll remember it.
- Quiz yourself on Mexican slang. Cover the English column and see if you remember what chela, caguama, and helodia mean. Then flip it—cover Spanish and try remembering the slang terms.
- Create a bar order in Spanish: what beer you want, what size, what temperature. Say it out loud three times until it flows naturally. “Una caña bien fría, por favor.”
Your Bar Vocabulary Is Ready
You now know 40+ beer terms, regional slang from five countries, and exactly how to order in Spain versus Mexico versus Argentina. More importantly, you understand that “una cerveza” is just the beginning—real beer vocabulary includes sizes, slang, temperatures, and cultural context.
The difference between a Spanish student and someone who actually drinks beer in Spanish? The student says “una cerveza, por favor” and waits nervously. The actual drinker walks into a Madrid bar and orders “una caña” without thinking. They know that chela sounds right in Mexico City but weird in Barcelona. They automatically add “bien fría” because lukewarm beer is unacceptable. That’s you now. Next time you’re at a bar in a Spanish-speaking country, order with confidence. ¡Salud!