Meaning
To consume alcoholic beverages.
Cultural Background
Drinking is deeply tied to gastronomy. It is common to drink wine with meals, but public intoxication is generally frowned upon. The legal drinking age is 18, and while the culture is similar to France, there is a stronger influence from North American craft beer culture. In many Muslim-majority Francophone countries, drinking alcohol is less common in public and may be restricted to specific hotels or restaurants.
The Negative Rule
Always use 'pas d'alcool' in the negative. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Social Nuance
If you are at a party, say 'Je vais prendre un verre' rather than 'Je vais boire de l'alcool' to sound more like a native.
Meaning
To consume alcoholic beverages.
The Negative Rule
Always use 'pas d'alcool' in the negative. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Social Nuance
If you are at a party, say 'Je vais prendre un verre' rather than 'Je vais boire de l'alcool' to sound more like a native.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct partitive article.
Il ne veut pas boire ___ alcool ce soir.
In a negative sentence, 'de l'' becomes 'd'' before a vowel.
Which sentence is the most formal?
Choose the formal version of 'drinking alcohol'.
'Consommer' is the formal verb for eating or drinking.
Match the phrase to the context.
Where would you most likely hear 'Est-ce que vous buvez de l'alcool ?'
This neutral, direct phrasing is typical of professional or medical inquiries.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Tu veux du vin ? B: Non merci, je ne ___ pas d'alcool.
The first person singular of 'boire' is 'bois'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Alcool
Fermenté
- • Le vin
- • La bière
- • Le cidre
Distillé
- • La vodka
- • Le rhum
- • Le whisky
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIl ne veut pas boire ___ alcool ce soir.
In a negative sentence, 'de l'' becomes 'd'' before a vowel.
Choose the formal version of 'drinking alcohol'.
'Consommer' is the formal verb for eating or drinking.
Where would you most likely hear 'Est-ce que vous buvez de l'alcool ?'
This neutral, direct phrasing is typical of professional or medical inquiries.
A: Tu veux du vin ? B: Non merci, je ne ___ pas d'alcool.
The first person singular of 'boire' is 'bois'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsIt is masculine: un alcool, l'alcool.
Yes, 'boire' is the general verb for all liquids.
You can say 'Je ne bois pas d'alcool' or simply 'Je ne bois pas'.
'Boire' focuses on the action of swallowing, while 'prendre' is often used for the social act of having a drink.
No, it is neutral, but 'Je prends un verre' is more polite in social invitations.
Because 'alcool' starts with a vowel, the partitive 'du' (de le) must become 'de l''.
Related Phrases
Prendre un verre
similarTo have a drink
Être ivre
builds onTo be drunk
Un apéritif
specialized formA pre-dinner drink
