Spanish · Food & Drink
"Soda (soft drink)" in Spanish: refresco
el refresco
A soft drink is el refresco (reh-FREHS-koh), a masculine noun. Ask for un refresco de cola or un refresco frío. In some places soda means club soda or sparkling water, so refresco is the safer soft-drink word in Latin America.
How to pronounce refresco: audio and sound guideRestaurant drinks
Un refresco de naranja, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce refresco
Say it
reh-FREHS-koh
/reˈfɾes.ko/
reh-FREHS-koh, stress on FREHS. The r taps lightly. Keep all three syllables clear in refresco.
"Soda (soft drink)" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el refresco | soft drink / soda Default Latin American word for a sweet carbonated drink. | Default Latin American word for a sweet carbonated drink. |
| un refresco de cola | a cola Clear cola order. | Clear cola order. |
| un refresco frío | a cold soft drink Everyday café ask. | Everyday café ask. |
| la gaseosa | soft drink (regional) Common in parts of South America; same idea as refresco. | Common in parts of South America; same idea as refresco. |
| la soda | club soda / soda water (often) May mean sparkling water, not cola—confirm locally. | May mean sparkling water, not cola—confirm locally. |
How to use refresco in real life
- 1Restaurant drinks
Un refresco de naranja, por favor.
An orange soda, please.
Flavor after refresco is natural.
- 2With food
¿Qué refresco tienen?
What soft drinks do you have?
Open question using refresco.
- 3Sharing
Pedimos un refresco grande para dos.
We'll order a large soft drink for two.
Size talk with refresco.
Mistakes English speakers make with refresco
Incorrect: Una refresco, por favor.
Correct: Un refresco, por favor.
Refresco is masculine. Say un refresco, este refresco, el refresco frío.
Incorrect: Quiero soda (meaning cola everywhere).
Correct: Quiero un refresco.
Soda can mean sparkling water. For a sweet soft drink, refresco is clearer in Latin America.
Good to know
Good to knowMexico and much of Central America say refresco for bottled soft drinks with meals. Gaseosa is common farther south. If you only say soda, some waiters think of soda water—add the brand or say refresco de cola.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering drinks with tacos
ChatPal
¿Quieres agua o un refresco?
Do you want water or a soft drink?
You
Un refresco de cola, frío.
A cold cola.
ChatPal
Este refresco es grande.
This soft drink is large.
You
Perfecto, gracias.
Perfect, thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Soda (soft drink)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Soda (soft drink)" in Spanish
Is refresco masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el refresco, un refresco grande. Not una refresco.
Is soda the same as refresco?
Not always. Refresco is the soft drink; soda often means sparkling water in parts of Latin America.
How do I say diet soda?
Un refresco de dieta, or name the brand plus sin azúcar if that is clearer.
What about gaseosa?
Gaseosa means soft drink too in parts of South America; refresco is widely understood.
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