cerveza

ser-BEH-sah/seɾˈβesa/

“cerveza” means “beer” in Spanish (The alcoholic beverage made from grain.).

beer

Also: ale, lager

NounfA1

SpainMexicoArgentinaColombia

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

📝 In Action

Me gustaría una cerveza bien fría, por favor.

I would like a very cold beer, please.

Vamos a tomar unas cervezas después del trabajo para relajarnos.

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.

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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cerveza" in Spanish:

ale→beer→lager→

✏️ 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

🎵 Rhymes▼

cabeza belleza tristeza naturaleza

📚 Etymology▼

Comes from 'cervisia', a word from the Latin spoken by everyday people, which itself was borrowed from a Gaulish (an ancient Celtic language) word. It is believed to be connected to Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: cervejaGalician: cervexaFrench: cervoise (an older term for beer)

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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.