Visiting a Spanish cafe
Let's start this lesson by visualizing a quick and smooth plane ride into Spain's cultural and political heart, its lively capital Madrid. Our friend Ana awaits us eagerly at the airport and offers to take us to her favorite cafe, El rincón de Ana. There is so much to choose from that we are happy to let Ana take the lead, ¿verdad?
Ana: Hola amigos, ¿qué tal si tomamos algo?
(Hello friends, what about having a drink?)
Tenemos muchas bebidas de las que elegir: Hay varias bebidas sin alcohol, y luego tambien bebidas alcoholicas. ¡Echadle un vistazo a la carta!
(There are lots of beverages to choose from: There are several drinks without alcohol, and also alcoholic drinks. Take a look at the menu!)
Bebidas sin alcohol
- el agua mineral (pronounced: ayl ah-goo-ah mee-nay-rahl) water
- el agua sin gas (pronounced: ayl ah-goo-ah seen gahs) still water
- el agua con gas (pronounced: ayl ah-goo-ah kohn gahs) sparkling water
- el zumo (pronounced: ayl thoo-moh) juice
- el zumo de naranja (pronounced: ayl thoo-moh day nah-rahn-hah) orange juice
- el zumo de manzana (pronounced: ayl thoo-moh day mahn-zah-nah) apple juice
- la manzanilla (pronounced: lah mahn-thah-nee-yah) chamomile tea
- la infusión (pronounced: lah mahn-thah-nee-yah) infusion
- el café (pronounced: ayl kah-fay) coffee
- el café con leche (pronounced: ayl kah-fay kohn lay-chay) coffee with milk
- el café negro (pronounced: ayl kah-fay nay-groh) black coffee
- el café descafeinado (pronounced: ayl kah-fay days-kafay-nah-doh) decaf coffee
- la leche (pronounced: lah lay-chay) milk
- la horchata (pronounced: lah or-chah-tah) horchata
Bebidas con alcohol
- el vino blanco (pronounced: ayl vee-noh blahn-koh) white wine
- el vino tinto(pronounced: ayl vee-noh teen-toh) red wine
- la cerveza (pronounced: lah thayr-vay-thah) beer
- la sidra (pronounced: lah see-drah) cider
- la sangría (pronounced: lah sahn-gree-ah) sangria
- el aguardiente(pronounced: ayl ah-gooahr-dyayn-tayh) hard liquor
- el champán(pronounced: ayl chahm-pahn) champagne
Typical beverages from Spain
Ana: !Ya veo que os cuesta decidir! ¿Qué os parece si decido yo por vosotros?
(I can see that it's hard for you to take a decision. What about me deciding for you guys?)
Muy bien, pues para que probeis varias bebidas, voy a pedir una horchata primero para cadauno, y luego bocadillos y una jarra grande de Sangría, ¿os parece?
(Very well, in order for you to try different beverages, I am going to order horchata for everyone first, and then sandwiches and a big jar of Sangria, what do you think about that?)
La horchata de chufa se toma mucho en España. Es una bebida refrescante, hecha con agua, chufas mojadas, canela y piel de limón.¡Es deliciosa, la teneis que probar!
(The nutsedge horchata is a very common drink in Spain. It's a refreshing beverage made of water, moistened nutsedges, cinnamon and lemon zest. It's delicious, you gotta try it!)
La Sangría seguro que os suena: normalmente está hecha de vino, fruta picada, algún licor y un endulzante . Y sabeis qué: !Por ley solo es permitido producir la Sangría en España y Portugal!
(You probably have heard of Sangria before: it's usually made of wine, chopped fruit, liquor, and a sweetener. Listen to this: Only Spain and Portugal are legally permitted to produce Sangria!)
Espero que os gusten las bebidas. ¡Salud!
(Enjoy your drinks. Cheers!)
Lesson summary
In this lesson we have gotten to know a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages such as el zumo de manzana, el agua sin gas, and el vino tinto. We have also learned about some typical Spanish drinks like horchata and sangría.
