Inklingo
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A minimalist illustration showing a clear glass bottle holding a rich, golden-brown alcoholic beverage, emphasizing the color and clarity of the strong drink.

licor

lee-KOR

nounmB2
liquor?strong distilled alcoholic drink,liqueur?sweet alcoholic drink, often served after dinner
Also:spirit?general term for distilled alcohol

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo siempre toma un vaso de licor de hierbas después de la cena.

B1

My grandfather always has a glass of herbal liqueur after dinner.

Necesitamos ir a la tienda de licores a comprar ron y tequila.

A2

We need to go to the liquor store to buy rum and tequila.

El consumo excesivo de licor puede ser perjudicial para la salud.

B2

Excessive consumption of liquor can be harmful to health.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bebida alcohólica (alcoholic drink)
  • aguardiente (spirit/firewater)

Common Collocations

  • tienda de licores – liquor store
  • vaso de licor – shot glass/liqueur glass
  • licor de café – coffee liqueur

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Remember that 'licor' is always masculine, so you must use masculine words like 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) before it: 'el licor' is correct.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Licor' and 'Cerveza'

Mistake: "Using 'licor' to mean beer."

Correction: 'Licor' only refers to distilled alcohol (like whiskey or rum) or sweet liqueurs. Use 'cerveza' for beer.

⭐ Usage Tips

Liquor vs. Liqueur

In Spanish, 'licor' covers both the strong spirits (liquor) and the sweet, flavored, often post-meal drinks (liqueur). If you need to be specific about the sweet type, you can say 'licor dulce'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: licor

Question 1 of 1

Which of these beverages is usually considered a 'licor' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

licorería(liquor store) - noun
alcohólico(alcoholic) - adjective/noun
bebida(drink) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'licor' and 'alcohol'?

'Alcohol' is the chemical substance present in drinks, or sometimes used as a general term for all alcoholic beverages. 'Licor' specifically refers to the strong, distilled drinks like vodka, whiskey, or rum, or sweet liqueurs.

Can I use 'licor' to refer to wine?

No. Wine is almost always called 'vino' (or sometimes 'licor de uva' in very specific, specialized contexts like fortified wines), but generally, 'licor' means spirits, not wine.