Vocabulary · Food and drink
Drinks in English
A1
Drinks in English: hot drinks, cold drinks, milk and smoothies, and the words you need to order a drink. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Hot drinks
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| coffee(n.)“I drink coffee in the morning.” | a hot brown drink from beans | /ˈkɒfi/ |
| tea(n.) | a hot drink made from leaves | /tiː/ |
| hot chocolate(n.) | a hot, sweet cocoa drink with milk | /hɒt ˈtʃɒklət/ |
| cappuccino(n.) | coffee with hot milk and foam | /ˌkæpʊˈtʃiːnəʊ/ |
| latte(n.) | coffee with a lot of hot milk | /ˈlɑːteɪ/ |
| herbal tea(n.) | a hot drink of flowers or plants | /ˈhɜːbəl tiː/ |
Cold soft drinks
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| water(n.) | the clear liquid in rivers and rain | /ˈwɔːtə/ |
| sparkling water(n.) | clear and fizzy, with no taste | /ˈspɑːklɪŋ ˈwɔːtə/ |
| still water(n.) | clear, with no bubbles | /stɪl ˈwɔːtə/ |
| juice(n.) | a drink made from fruit | /dʒuːs/ |
| orange juice(n.) | a drink made from pressed citrus fruit | /ˈɒrɪndʒ dʒuːs/ |
| soda / pop(n.) | a sweet drink with bubbles | /ˈsəʊdə/ |
| lemonade(n.) | a sweet, often fizzy citrus drink | /ˌleməˈneɪd/ |
| milkshake(n.) | a cold, thick drink with ice cream | /ˈmɪlkʃeɪk/ |
Milk and other drinks
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| milk(n.) | a white drink from cows | /mɪlk/ |
| smoothie(n.) | a thick drink of blended fruit | /ˈsmuːði/ |
| iced tea(n.) | a cold drink made with leaves and lemon | /aɪst tiː/ |
Verbs and expressions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to drink(v.) | to take liquid into your mouth | /drɪŋk/ |
| thirsty(adj.) | needing a drink | /ˈθɜːsti/ |
| a glass of(phrase) | a measure for cold drinks | /ə ɡlɑːs əv/ |
| a cup of(phrase) | a measure for hot drinks | /ə kʌp əv/ |
| a bottle of(phrase) | the drink in a plastic or glass container | /ə ˈbɒtəl əv/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Soda (US) or fizzy drink (UK)?
In the US, people say soda or pop. In the UK, they say fizzy drink. Cola, lemonade and other drinks without alcohol are soft drinks (a word that everyone understands).
Drink = verb AND noun
Drink can be a verb (to take a liquid into your mouth) or a noun (something that you drink). I drink water (verb). I want a drink (noun). The context tells you which one.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Drinks
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Drinks” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
Every year, the English contest uses a wide range of cultural topics. Register your students so they can see what they really remember.
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Practise on PLAYDrinks: learn these words for good
Learning a long list by heart and forgetting it a few days later? With PLAY, you review the words at the right moment (spaced repetition), so they stay in your head.
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For teachers“Drinks” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
The Academy groups these words into topic-based sequences, with quizzes and practice in context: your students remember the words, and you have nothing to mark.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between sparkling water and still water?+
Sparkling water has bubbles in it. Still water has no bubbles. In a restaurant, the waiter often asks Sparkling or still?: it is the standard question.
Is it coffee with milk or white coffee?+
Both are correct. Coffee with milk is understood everywhere. White coffee is British and common in speech. Black coffee has no milk. You can also ask for coffee with sugar or no sugar.
How do you order a drink in English?+
Say I'd like + drink + please, or Can I have + drink? To give the size, say a small, medium or large coffee. And never forget please!
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/drinks
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.