Don't bother

This is a subject that can get complicated from the moment you open your mouth in a bar, café and restaurant. There is one coping strategy that will instantly appeal to somebody who has no wish to get embroiled in both the Spanish culture and its language. You can stay in a resort already used to the presence of English people, there may even be bars owned and run by English people …under these circumstances the compiled knowledge on this page should be of little interest to you.

Pronouncing it!

The first thing to learn is how to pronounce the word for beer - and, believe it or not, there are two ways of doing this. The word is spelled 'cerveza' and, if you are holidaying in the south, then your would pronounce this sairr-VAY-za. The capitalised words in the middle of the indicate where the stress or emphasis lies in the word. In the north, things get a little odd with the lisping accent used there and the word comes out as Thairr-BAY-tha. Please note that you are much more likely to understood if you roll the 'r' in the word.

Escape route

If you don't fancy wrapping your tongue around these complex syllables, and only ever drink small amounts of beer, then you are in luck because you can order a 'caña' instead (pronounced KAN-ya). The 'a' sounds are the same as those in 'canal' …stay away from 'a' sounds like southern English people use to say 'bath, castle and plaster.' (like there is an invisible 'r' in the word).