When to use beber vs. tomar?

Question

I've heard people say, can't wait to "tomar" tonight But then, they say, I want to "beber" tonight (all in Spanish of course) I don't get what the difference in usage is, is tomar less formal or something?

Answer 1

I would say "tomar" is more of "to have a drink (alcohol).

Funny, I look at it exactly the opposite way. It's a cultural thing. In some places (and circumstances) "tomar" is used more frequently to refer to drinking alcohol, and in other places the preferred word for that meaning is "beber". Both mean to drink, regardless.

true - Silvia, Aug 13, 2011

Hnmm,what about in Argentina?if you know - dondestascorazon, Aug 13, 2011

Answer 2

Beber vs. tomar. I sometimes feel like this is that old question for Tootsie Pops. "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" The world may never know...

There seems to be no agreement from this forum, though some do insinuate that it's a regional difference.

I would say "tomar" is more of "to have a drink" ( that drink being alcohol).

Answer 3

I think it's about with what word you use them. For instance: "Beber alcohol" seems a little bit weird to me just like tomar cola...

See what I mean? "Beber alcohol" sounds perfectly natural to me. - Gekkosan, Aug 13, 2011

where are each of u from?:) - dondestascorazon, Aug 13, 2011

Answer 4

In Ecuador, the word specific to drinking alcohol is chupar. Tomar is the word most commonly used for drinking in general and I rarely hear beber.

In Chile also "chupar" is used for alcoholic beverage, but that's colloquially speaking, beside we don say that guy is chupado as that means "slender" :) - chileno, Aug 14, 2011

True on both counts. A waiter is never going to use chupar to ask what you want to drink. - lorenzo9, Aug 14, 2011

Answer 5

Depends of the country/region.... they mean the same.

I am not sure about what Gekkosan says about alcoholic vs soda/juice...

In Chile tomamos milk, juice, and alcohol. When it is too much alcohol we andamos borrachos o tomados.

Is the same in Venezuela - Animalescus, Aug 13, 2011

Answer 6

If you walk into a restaurant in Mexico, the default question for "something to drink?" is "Algo tomar?" I never heard "algo beber" in this context. The response could be either una copa de algo (alcoholic) o una bebida (like a coke).