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Bebe -vs- Toma

Vonderbach

January 17, 2011 10:18 AM

Bebe -vs- Toma

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	January 17, 2011 10:33 AM

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

AngelicaDeAlquezar

January 17, 2011 02:44 PM

"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

January 18, 2011 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar (Post 103723)

"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

January 18, 2011 08:00 AM

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

chileno

January 18, 2011 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perikles (Post 103738)

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

January 18, 2011 11:23 AM

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

chileno

January 18, 2011 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar (Post 103745)

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

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. :rolleyes:

irmamar

January 21, 2011 01:53 AM

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" :bad: (I know this is used in other countries), but "bebe mucho" :good:.

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 :D ). :)

Perikles

January 21, 2011 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 103833)

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

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

irmamar

January 21, 2011 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perikles (Post 103836)

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

Le obligaron a beberse el veneno / Hicieron que se bebiera el veneno.

Perikles

January 21, 2011 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 103839)

Le obligaron a beberse el veneno / Hicieron que se bebiera el veneno.

Thanks. Obvious really. :rolleyes: :)

irmamar

January 21, 2011 04:13 AM

Yes, it is; but you're welcome anyway.:)

AngelicaDeAlquezar

January 21, 2011 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 103833)

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. Never in Mexico. Here's always a difference between "comer" and "beber"/"tomar".

If you are talking about somebody who drinks a lot, you can't say "toma mucho" :bad: (I know this is used in other countries) In Mexico, for example :D , but "bebe mucho" :good:.

In a restaurant, after you've ordering your meal, usually the waiter will ask: "¿Y para beber? A Mexican waiter will say: "¿(Y) de tomar? ;)

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 :D ). :)

Funny: You don't say "beber un café" :D

irmamar

January 22, 2011 12:57 PM

Tanto beber, tomar y café me recuerda los chistes de los Indios Gorrones (son tres en uno :D ):

IG: Indio Gorrón
P: Pistolero

Estaba un pistolero en el saloon y entra un indio gorrón:

IG: Acabo de ver a tu hermano con Thomas.
P: ¿Qué Thomas?
IG: Un whisky.

Al día siguiente, la misma situación:

IG: Acabo de ver un pájaro con un bebes?
P: ¿Bebes? ¿Qué bebes?
IG: Un whisky doble.

El pistolero se enfada, saca la pistola y lo mata. Al día siguiente, el pistolero está de nuevo en el saloon. De repente, aparece toda la tribu de los Indios Gorrones:

IG (jefe): ¿Quién mató a Pluma de Águila?
P: Yo.
IG (jefe): ¿Tú solo?
P: Sí, yo solo.
IG (jefe): Pues nosotros con leche.

:coffeebreak: :D :D :D

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