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
formal “ponme” and a more formal*
“póngame”.
Here are some
examples of more formal answers :
- Póngame un café, por favor (I'll have a coffee, please);
- Póngame un café con leche, por favor (I'll have a white coffee, please);
- Póngame una cerveza, por favor (I'll have a beer, please);
- Póngame un agua mineral con gas, por favor (I'll have a fizzy mineral water, please);
- Póngame un vino blanco, por favor (I'll have a white wine please);
- Póngame un vino tinto, por favor (I'll have a red wine please);
*Note
You
would use the more formal “póngame”
if are not on first name terms with the waiter; or if you want
to come across as formal/ keeping your distances. See how to reply when you are on first name terms.
Now
you should practice answering the question:
¿Qué
le pongo?
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