Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa dentro

Personally, I consider this piece of Spanish a "must know". Maybe that's because I spend so much time in bars when I go to Mexico, but that's another story, albeit related.

It's pretty much a worldwide custom to make a toast while you have a few drinks friends or celebrate a special occasion. In America, we say "cheers", as you well know. But in Spanish, you say ¡salud!

But personally, I find that particular toast a bit plain, which brings us to the topic of today's post.

¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa' dentro!

While we can make a literal translation, there's no equivalent expression in English that I'm aware of. Memorize this and say it right before you slam down your favorite tequila, or whatever your drink of choice is. OK, maybe you don't have to slam it down, but it might make the night more interesting.

Let's talk a little about the Spanish you see in this image.

You probably noticed the pa in steps 1, 2 and 4 on the image. That's just a contraction for para. The pa'l on step 3 is a contraction for para al. And that's your Spanish lesson for today.

So here's how it works, so pay close attention (fijense bien) because the physical mechanics of this toast are crucial. OK, maybe crucial is a bit much, but the motions come with the phrase.

You know what? Forget the picture, here's a video of this toast being done in action. If you can't see the video here's the direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr3Q5H57kRU

Now, oddly enough, that is the traditional toast and that's exactly how it's done. Except I'm not accustomed to doing it that way.

I'll describe the way I've seen it done, and done it myself. I picked this up in Northern Mexico, Tijuana to be exact. I can't tell you how common it is outside of there.

Let's get to it.

At each step, be sure to "clink" or touch glasses. Or beer bottles, whatever it is your drinking from. I'm typically drinking beer, so let's go with that.

Now in my version the movements aren't as exaggerated as they are in the picture and video above. You just hold your beer bottle (or glass) at about shoulder height in front of you and it stays at that level. After that, just go through the motions:

"Arriba" - Literally translates to "up". Touch the necks of your beer bottles

"Abajo" - Literally translates to "down". Touch the bottom of your beer bottles

"Al centro" - Literally translates to "center". Touch the center of your beer bottles. You general rub them up and down just a tad too.

"Pa' dentro or Adentro" - Literally translates to "inside". Drink immediately, bottoms up!

I know it's tough to envision, I'll work on getting some video next time I'm there.

And here's a variation of this wonderful toast. The words have changed (just a little) but motions are the same.

Arriba, abajo, al centro, con un movimiento, el vaso a la boca y todo adentro

Simple, right? Well, I say you head to the closest cantina (bar) and practice this until you get it right.

Also be sure to visit my sister blog and read my post 3 Ways to ask for happy hour specials in Spanish.

And lastly, for 20+ more bar/drinking phrases and over 1600 useful Spanish phrases on your Android device, check out My Spanish Phrasebook.

¡Cuidense amigos!

These tequila cocktail recipes are sure to make your National Tequila Day a festive one!

I learned the “tequila toast,” arriba (glasses up); abajo (glasses down); al centro (glasses to the front which wishes health to everyone participating in the toast); y pa’ dentro (your tequila goes inside or drink your drink), when I was shopping in Acapulco a few years back. I was hunting for what my mom and I called Mexican blankets when we visited the country in the 1990s, but I learned are actually rugs when an Acapulqueño shopkeeper schooled me. He gave me an awesome deal on two rugs, which we use as blankets, and then he heard me cough and said he had the perfect cure — tequila! I was skeptical, but when in Acapulco, drink tequila at 10:30 a.m. The shopkeeper poured a round for us and then taught me how to properly toast with tequila. And you know what, it did stop my post-nasal drip-induced coughing. It’s occurrences like this in which drink and/or food bring people together that I cherish when traveling and I enjoy recalling on days like today, National Tequila Day. Although I took my “medicine” straight, these tequila cocktails are sure to delight your palate also.

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Camarena Old Fashioned

Ingredients: