Inklingo
← Dictionary
A tall, clear glass filled with golden beer, topped with a thick layer of white foam, sitting on a simple surface.

cerveza

/ser-BEH-sah/

NounfA1
beer?The alcoholic beverage made from grain.
Also:ale?When referring to a specific type of beer.,lager?When referring to a specific type of beer.

📝 In Action

Me gustaría una cerveza bien fría, por favor.

A1

I would like a very cold beer, please.

Vamos a tomar unas cervezas después del trabajo para relajarnos.

A2

Let's go have a few beers after work to relax.

España es famosa por su vino, pero también tiene una gran cultura de la cerveza.

B1

Spain is famous for its wine, but it also has a great beer culture.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • birra (beer (slang))
  • chela (beer (slang, mainly Mexico))
  • pola (beer (slang, Colombia))

Common Collocations

  • cerveza de barril – draft beer / beer on tap
  • cerveza artesanal – craft beer
  • cerveza sin alcohol – non-alcoholic beer
  • tomar una cerveza – to have a beer

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

The word 'cerveza' always uses 'la' or 'una' because it's a feminine noun. Just remember that it ends with an '-a', which is a great clue for feminine words in Spanish. So, it's always 'la cerveza fría' (the cold beer).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Plural 's'

Mistake: "Quiero dos cerveza."

Correction: Quiero dos cervezas. Like in English, when you're talking about more than one, you usually need to add an '-s' to the end of the noun.

⭐ Usage Tips

How to Order a Beer

The simplest way is 'Una cerveza, por favor.' But in many places, especially Spain, it's more common to ask for a specific size, like 'una caña' (a small draft beer) or 'un tercio' (a 33cl bottle).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cerveza

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Mexico and a friend asks, '¿Quieres una chela?', what are they offering you?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cervecería(brewery; beer hall) - noun
cervecero(brewer; beer-related) - noun/adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cerveza' always feminine?

Yes, always. You say 'la cerveza' or 'una cerveza'. Even if a brand name sounds masculine, the word 'cerveza' itself stays feminine. For example, 'una cerveza Corona'.

What's the difference between 'cerveza', 'chela', and 'caña'?

'Cerveza' is the standard, universal word. 'Chela' is informal slang used mostly in Mexico. 'Caña' isn't another word for beer itself, but a way of ordering a specific size—a small draft beer—which is very common in Spain.