refresco
/re-FRES-ko/
soft drink
A 'refresco' is a refreshing soft drink or soda.
refresco(noun)
soft drink
?a non-alcoholic carbonated beverage
,soda
?common term in the US for fizzy drinks
refreshment
?a general term for a cold drink or light snack
,pop
?regional English for soda
📝 In Action
¿Quieres un refresco de naranja?
A1Do you want an orange soda?
No bebo refrescos porque tienen mucha azúcar.
A2I don't drink soft drinks because they have a lot of sugar.
Sirvieron unos refrescos durante el intermedio.
B1They served some refreshments during the intermission.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Even if the flavor of the soda is a feminine word (like 'naranja' or 'fresa'), you still use the masculine 'el' or 'un' because 'refresco' is a masculine noun.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Soda vs. Juice
Mistake: "Using 'refresco' for fruit juice."
Correction: Use 'jugo' or 'zumo' for juice. 'Refresco' usually implies something carbonated or a manufactured cold drink.
⭐ Usage Tips
Ordering in a Restaurant
In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you just ask for 'un refresco,' the waiter might ask you '¿De qué sabor?' (What flavor?).
The verb 'refresco' describes the action of refreshing oneself.
refresco(verb)
I refresh
?when you are the one doing the action right now
,I cool down
?lowering the temperature of something
I update
?like refreshing a web page or a memory
📝 In Action
Me refresco la cara con agua fría.
B1I refresh my face with cold water.
Cada cinco minutos refresco la página para ver los resultados.
B1Every five minutes I refresh the page to see the results.
💡 Grammar Points
The Spelling Change
When the 'c' in 'refrescar' meets an 'e', it changes to 'qu' (like in 'refresqué') to keep the hard 'k' sound.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive Use
We often add 'me' before 'refresco' (Me refresco) to say 'I am cooling myself down.'
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: refresco
Question 1 of 2
If you are at a party and someone offers you 'un refresco', what are they most likely giving you?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'refresco' include beer or wine?
No, 'refresco' specifically refers to non-alcoholic drinks. For alcoholic drinks, you would use 'bebida alcohólica' or the specific name of the drink.
Is 'soda' used in Spanish?
Yes, but it's less common than 'refresco'. 'Soda' is often used to refer specifically to plain carbonated water (club soda).