Q ¿Cómo vas? — How are you doing?
- A Voy piripi, pero bien. — A bit tipsy, but good.
- A Todavía entero. — Still in one piece.
They'll say Pues venga, otra. — Go on then — another.
How drunk are you? (Spain)
The whole ladder, and the moments where you have to pick a rung out loud.
Short answerIn Spain, say achispado/a — Tipsy, pleasantly buzzed.
De piripi a ir ciego.
Spain grades this finely and talks about it cheerfully. Naming your rung honestly is normal — it is how the group decides whether you're getting a taxi.
The scale, bottom to top
- achispado/aTipsy, pleasantly buzzed.
- piripiTipsy and cheerful (cute, old-school).
- estar puesto/ayoungFeeling it, a bit gone.
- borracho/aDrunk (the standard word).
- ir/llevar un pedoyoungTo be drunk — "voy pedo" works for anyone (never "peda").
- ir ciego/ayoungBlind drunk.
- estar mamado/ayoungWasted.
- estar cocido/a"Cooked" = hammered.
- coger una cogorza/trompa/tajadaTo get smashed.
- voy mazo pedoMadridyoungI'm super drunk (very Madrid).
Saying where you're at
Q ¿Cuántas llevas? — How many have you had?
- A Tres, voy achispado/a. — Three — I'm tipsy.
They'll say Vas bien entonces. — You're doing fine, then.
Q Creo que voy bastante pedo. — I think I'm pretty drunk.
- A Bébete un agua. — Drink some water.
Q ¿Un chupito? — A shot?
- A No, que voy ya servido/a. — No — I'm well served already.
They'll say Tú mismo. — Suit yourself.
"Ir servido" is the graceful refusal: it admits you're drunk without making it anyone's problem.
Q Hasta aquí llego yo. — This is as far as I go.
- A Muy bien hecho. — Very sensible.
Q ¿Tu amiga está bien? — Is your friend okay?
- A Va muy mamada, me la llevo a casa. — She's hammered — I'm taking her home.
They'll say ¿Queréis que os pida un taxi? — Shall I get you a taxi?
Q Anoche acabé fatal. — I ended up in a state last night.
- A Se te notaba. — It showed.
Q ¿Llegas bien a casa? — Will you get home all right?
- A Sí, cojo un taxi. — Yes, I'll grab a taxi.
- A Pues no, la verdad. — Not really, no.
They'll say Te acompaño. — I'll come with you.
Slowing down & getting home
Q ¿Otra ronda? — Another round?
- A Yo me salto esta. — I'll sit this one out.
They'll say Como quieras. — As you like.
Q Para mí solo agua, porfa. — Just water for me, please.
- A Ahora te la traigo. — I'll bring it over.
Q Yo conduzco, no bebo. — I'm driving — I'm not drinking.
- A Eso está muy bien. — That's very sensible.
Spain's limit is 0.5, and 0.3 in your first two years of licence. Saying you're driving ends it — nobody insists.
Q ¡Venga, una más! — Come on, one more!
- A Que no, de verdad. — No — honestly, no.
They'll say Vale, vale. — All right, all right.
Q Necesito comer algo. — I need to eat something.
- A ¿Un bocata de calamares? — A calamari sandwich?
The 3am Madrid answer. The bocata de calamares is the city's own hangover-prevention device.
Q Yo me retiro ya. — I'm calling it a night.
- A ¿Te acompaño fuera? — Shall I walk you out?
Q Bebe agua entre medias. — Drink water in between.
- A Sí, buena idea. — Yes — good idea.
They'll say Voy a por ella. — I'll go and get it.
Q ¿Me pides un taxi? — Could you order me a taxi?
- A Ya te lo pido, espera dentro. — I'll order it — wait inside.