Bebe -vs- Toma

[Vonderbach]

From what I have read, both can be used as the verb "drink." Is this a regional variation or is there some subtle difference between the two words? I mentioned "bebe" to a friend who speaks Spanish from the DR and he was not familiar with the term as used for "drink." Another woman from PR knew it as "beber" only, but no singular use.

I am getting the impression that Spanish may well be a very tricky language for someone in America due to the simple fact that every country seems to hold on to regional colloquialisms that may change the meaning of a word dramatically.

[Beto]

Seems to me that tomar is used more often Mexico. But both mean the same.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Tomar" and "beber" are synonyms. I think both would be understood everywhere, but it's true there are some regional variations that might make it complicated for a Spanish learner. Don't be scared, anyway, as there is a standard level, which is what language courses teach.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

"Tomar" and "beber" are synonyms.

I'm not sure whether you really meant that. Perhaps you meant that whenever you might use beber you could always use tomar instead, in which case beber is a subset of tomar. I only question this because tomar clearly has a wider application than beber: ¿qué vas a tomar de postre?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Hmmm... Ok... "Tomar" has many more meanings, but for the specific question about having a drink, they're exchangeable.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I'm not sure whether you really meant that. Perhaps you meant that whenever you might use beber you could always use tomar instead, in which case beber is a subset of tomar. I only question this because tomar clearly has a wider application than beber: ¿qué vas a tomar de postre?

Like Angélica said, tomar has many more meanings. However, I have neved heard that phrase "tomar de postre", we say "comer de postre" else, tomar would be taken as "beber", and postre it is never drunk.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Hernán: Lo he escuchado antes usado así. Aquí se usa con frecuencia para los helados, aunque tampoco son líquidos.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Hernán: Lo he escuchado antes usado así. Aquí se usa con frecuencia para los helados, aunque tampoco son líquidos.

Entiendo, pero a menos que haya cambiado en Chile, debiera todavía estar comiéndos sus helados o chuparlos como mínimo... pero nunca tomárselos a menos que se haya derretido.

[irmamar]

In Spain they are not interchangeable and "beber" can be used both as transitive or intransitive verb, while "tomar" is only transitive.

If you are in a bar, you can say: "¿Qué quieres tomar?", and that means both eat and drink.

If you are talking about somebody who drinks a lot, you can't say "toma mucho" (I know this is used in other countries), but "bebe mucho" .

In a restaurant, after you've ordering your meal, usually the waiter will ask: "¿Y para beber?

So, we say: tomar un café, tomar el postre, tomar algo para beber o para comer (una cerveza, un vino, unas tapas). Beber agua, beber alcohol y, por ejemplo, Sócrates se bebió el veneno (no se lo aconsejo a nadie ).

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

por ejemplo, Sócrates se bebió el veneno (no se lo aconsejo a nadie ).

Interesting emphatic: beberse. How then would you say They made him drink poison ?