Regardless of your reasons for improving your Spanish, whether it be travelling to Spain or Latin America or being able to communicate with colleagues and clients, you will always have opportunities to socialise. This socialising may often take place in a pub, a bar, or a restaurant.
However, many Spanish learners make mistakes when they translate literally from their native tongue. These poorly translated phrases can interfere with your communication and cause cultural misunderstandings.
Here’s how to avoid the most common mistakes:
DON’T SAY: “bebemos con amigos”
DO SAY: “tomamos algo con amigos”
The verb “beber” refers to the physical act of drinking, whether it be water or beer. If you want to say that you met your friends at a bar or pub, use the following expressions instead:
“tomar algo” – to have a drink
“tomar una cerveza o una caña” – to have a beer
“tomar una copas” – to have a drink (which applies to wine or spirits.)
That way, you focus on the social act of being with friends while drinking, rather than the fact that you drank something.
DON’T SAY: “tenemos una bebida”
DO SAY: “tomamos algo” o “tomamos una copa”
The verb “tomar” expresses the act of eating or drinking something, but Spanish learners will often mistakenly use “tener” instead. For example, they might say, “para cenar tengo una ensalada”. This is incorrect because “tener” expresses possession, that is, owning something.
Instead, use expressions such as:
“para cenar tomo una ensalada” – I have a salad for dinner
“para desayunar, tomo un café y unas tostadas” – I have coffee and toasts for breakfast
DON’T SAY: “comprar” (to buy) in a bar, pub, or a restaurant
DO SAY: “pagar” (to pay) in the previous situations
In Spanish you cannot use the verb “comprar” (to buy) for the act of purchasing food and drink at bars, restaurants, or pubs. Instead, you can use this verb to purchase products at other types of stores, such as supermarkets, shoe stores, bookstores, and real estate agencies.
You could replace “comprar” with “pagar”, as the following examples show:
“he pedido otra ronda para todos, y ya la he pagado”
“¿quien ha pagado la cena?”
DON’T SAY: “te invito” if you’re not going to pay
DO SAY: “te invito” for dinner and drinks when you’re paying
One of the meanings of “invitar” in Spanish is similar to English: it expresses the intention of having a dinner or a party. This can be with your friends or family.
However, you can use “te invito” in a social context when you intend to go out for drinks or dinner. But remember: You can only use this phrase to invite someone for drinks or dinner if you’re paying!
As you can see above, Spanish uses specific verbs in specific social contexts. Make sure you learn this list of phrases, so that when you’re next in a Spanish-speaking context, you don’t make any mistakes. Happy learning!
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