25+ English Slang Words for Drinks: Fun Phrases You Should Know

In this blog post, I’ll teach you English slang words for drinks. You will learn how people talk about tea, coffee, alcohol, water, soft drinks, and more.

When you watch English movies or TV shows, you may hear people talking about drinks using different and funny words. These are called slang.

Slangs are informal words that native speakers use in daily conversation.

They are not used in formal writing or speaking, but they are very common in everyday life.

This will help you understand native English speakers better and also improve your vocabulary.

Let’s get started!

This post is helpful for:

English beginners and ESL learners
Kids, school, and college students
Working professionals
English teachers and future teachers

Table of Contents

🧋1. Slangs for Tea

Tea is a very popular drink in many countries, including India and the UK. Here are some slang words for tea:

a) Cuppa

Meaning: A cup of tea
Example: I’m so tired. I need a cuppa!

“Cuppa” is short for “cup of” tea.

b) Brew

Meaning: A strong cup of tea
Example: Let’s have a nice hot brew.

In British English, “brew” means tea made with boiling water.

c) Chai

Meaning: Indian-style tea
Example: I love masala chai on a rainy day.

“Chai” is used in many English-speaking countries now, especially when talking about Indian tea.

☕2. Slangs for Coffee

Coffee is loved all around the world. Here are some fun slang terms for coffee:

a) Joe / Cup of Joe

Meaning: A cup of coffee
Example: I can’t start my day without a cup of Joe.

b) Java

Meaning: Coffee
Example: I grabbed a java before going to work.

“Java” comes from the Indonesian island where coffee was grown.

c) Brew

Meaning: Coffee made fresh
Example: I need a strong brew this morning.

“Brew” can mean both tea and coffee, depending on the context.

d) Mud

Meaning: A very strong or dark coffee
Example: This mud is too bitter for me!

🍺3. Slangs for Alcoholic Drinks

There are many slang words for alcoholic drinks. Here are some common ones:

a) Booze

Meaning: Any alcoholic drink
Example: He gave up booze after his health problems.

b) Bevy

Meaning: Drink (especially alcohol)
Example: Fancy a bevy after work?

“Bevy” is short for beverage, used mostly in the UK and Australia.

c) Brewskie / Brewski

Meaning: Beer
Example: Let’s grab a few brewskies this weekend.

d) Cold one

Meaning: A cold beer
Example: Nothing beats a cold one on a hot day.

e) Hooch

Meaning: Cheap or homemade alcohol
Example: That hooch gave me a headache.

f) Shot

Meaning: A small amount of strong alcohol
Example: I had one shot of whiskey.

A “shot” is usually 30–60 ml of alcohol, taken in one gulp.

🥤4. Slangs for Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are sweet, fizzy drinks like Coca-Cola, Sprite, etc. Let’s see how native speakers talk about them:

a) Soda

Meaning: Carbonated drink
Example: I’ll have a soda with my burger.

Common in the US.

b) Pop

Meaning: Another word for soda
Example: Want some pop?

Common in Canada and some parts of the US.

c) Fizzy

Meaning: Fizzy drink like cola
Example: Kids love fizzy drinks.

d) Cola

Meaning: Any soft drink that looks like Coke
Example: Just get me a cola.

🧃5. Slangs for Water and Juice

Even water and juice have their slang names in English!

a) H2O

Meaning: Water
Example: Drink some H2O. It’s hot outside!

H2O is the scientific name for water, used in a fun way.

b) Aqua

Meaning: Water
Example: Can I get some aqua, please?

“Aqua” comes from Latin, and is used in some modern slang.

c) OJ

Meaning: Orange juice
Example: I always have OJ with breakfast.

🍷6. Slangs for Wine and Cocktails

a) Vino

Meaning: Wine
Example: She loves red vino with dinner.

“Vino” is an Italian word used in English slang for wine.

b) Plonk

Meaning: Cheap wine
Example: That’s just a bottle of plonk.

This slang is mostly used in the UK and Australia.

c) G&T

Meaning: Gin and tonic
Example: I’ll take a G&T, please.

d) Mocktail

Meaning: A non-alcoholic cocktail
Example: I don’t drink, so I ordered a mocktail.

🧉7. Slangs for Energy Drinks and Milkshakes

a) Energy shot

Meaning: A small bottle of a strong energy drink
Example: I had an energy shot before my exam.

b) Shake

Meaning: Milkshake
Example: I love chocolate shakes.

c) Smoothie

Meaning: A thick drink made from fruits and milk or yogurt
Example: I had a banana smoothie after my workout.

💬8. Fun Slang Phrases with Drinks

Now let’s look at some fun phrases that include drink slangs:

a) Let’s go for a drink

Meaning: Let’s meet and have some alcohol (or sometimes coffee)
Example: Let’s go for a drink after work.

b) Drink like a fish

Meaning: Drink a lot of alcohol
Example: He drinks like a fish on weekends.

c) One for the road

Meaning: One last drink before going home
Example: Just one for the road, then I’m off.

d) On the rocks

Meaning: Alcohol with ice
Example: I’ll take a whiskey on the rocks.

📚9. Slang vs. Formal Words – A Quick Look

Formal Word	Slang Word
Tea	Cuppa, Brew
Coffee	Joe, Java, Mud
Beer	Brewski, Cold one
Alcohol	Booze, Hooch
Soft drink	Soda, Pop, Fizzy
Water	H2O, Aqua
Orange juice	OJ
Wine	Vino, Plonk
Cocktail	G&T, Mocktail
Milkshake	Shake
Smoothie	Smoothie

📝Tips to Use These Slangs

Use only in casual conversations
These words are not for exams or formal writing.
Listen and learn
Watch English movies, YouTube videos, and songs. You will hear these words often.
Practice speaking
Use these slangs when talking with friends or practicing spoken English.
Be careful with alcohol slangs
Some words may not be appropriate for young learners or in formal situations.

✅Final Thoughts

Learning slang makes your English more natural and fun. These drink-related slangs are common in conversations, movies, and casual settings.

Knowing them will help you sound more like a native speaker and also help you understand what others are saying.

Keep a small notebook or list of slangs you learn and try using them when speaking.

Don’t worry if you forget or make mistakes. Practice makes perfect!

💡Your Turn!

Can you use these slangs in a sentence? Try writing 5 short sentences using any of the words you learned today. For example:

I had a cold one with my friends last night.
She ordered a mocktail at the party.
I love a hot cuppa in the morning.
He drinks too much booze.
Let’s meet for a cup of joe!

Share your examples in the comments!

If you liked this post, check out more fun English lessons on vocabulary, slang, idioms, and conversation tips.

Happy learning!