Introduction
This
post is about ordering
drink in a cafe/ bar.
SCENARIO
Imagine
you walk into a cafe/
bar. After
exchanging customary greetings, the waiter says to you something
like: "what
would you like?"
In
Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:
¿Qué
te pongo?
Alternatively,
he/ she could choose to be more formal and say:
¿Qué
le pongo?
OUR
TIP
The question in
Spanish is an invitation for you to order, which should be quite
straightforward. Often giving the name of a drink would be
sufficient. However, you can be much more communicative with a little
effort. Doing so will also help you practise choosing between the
more formal and less formal ways of speaking.
Using the verb in
the question for your answer would be quite an appropriate starting
point. If you take this option, you would choose between a less*
“ponme” and a more formal “póngame”.
Here are some
examples of informal answers :
- Ponme un café, por favor (I'll have a coffee, please);
- Ponme un café con leche, por favor (I'll have a white coffee, please);
- Ponme una cerveza, por favor (I'll have a beer, please);
- Ponme un agua mineral con gas, por favor (I'll have a fizzy mineral water, please);
- Ponme un vino blanco, por favor (I'll have a white wine please);
- Ponme un vino tinto, por favor (I'll have a red wine please);
*Note
You
would use the less formal “ponme”
if you are on first name terms with the waiter; or if you want
to come across as friendly and familiar. See how to reply when you are not on first name terms.
Now
you should practice answering the question:
¿Qué
te pongo?
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