¡Arriba, Abajo, Al Centro, Pa' Dentro! - My Spanish Notes

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Monday, May 31, 2010

¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, 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! en 6:00 AM

31 comments:

C and G TaylorMay 31, 2010 at 9:53 AM
This is great....much practice may be needed to get both hands well coordinated! I'll practice with friends, first.Gigi
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Rosas Clan in TulumMay 31, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Salute mi amigo!!!! Esta frase we mui importante aqui in Mexico. I hope that was sort of right! This is one of the first things I learned when I moved here!
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1. AnonymousFebruary 24, 2023 at 8:03 PM
  Lol that’s right
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C.T.July 2, 2010 at 4:05 PM
quite popular in Basque areas too, from my trip in June '10
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ReginaAugust 24, 2010 at 10:23 PM
nice note! i enjoy this toast myself!
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AnonymousMarch 1, 2011 at 10:10 AM
I do this everytime me and my girls are in the mexican nite club
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AnonymousOctober 21, 2011 at 1:59 PM
The traslation is :UPDOWN CENTER and InsideAnd we use it, in every latin country not only mexico
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1. AnonymousAugust 6, 2022 at 3:24 PM
  But it originated in Mexico.
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AnonymousJanuary 30, 2012 at 9:54 PM
I spent two weeks in Costa Rica and we used this phrase all the time!
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UnknownOctober 4, 2012 at 7:02 PM
Rod anfinson taught this to me a few years ago. Oh the memories we had were worth remembering. RIP. The beginning of every adventure, during the adventure, and at the end if we're still standing. Phx, AZ~San Diego, Calii~ Cabo, Mexico
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AnonymousFebruary 10, 2013 at 1:07 AM
In custom it means "to my friends"... You are never above me, never below me, never away from me and always with me.
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1. AnonymousMay 8, 2024 at 4:42 PM
  My question is when she says “touch the neck of the bottle and the center and the bottom “ are you touching your own bottle or clinking the top, center and bottom of your friends bottle?
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2. RodneyOctober 9, 2024 at 1:30 PM
  In my experience it has always been "clinking the top, center and bottom of your friends bottle"
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AnonymousFebruary 27, 2013 at 6:16 AM
Never above you never below you always side by side
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AnonymousJuly 30, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Salud is more than health. The entire toast is ¡Salud, pesetas, amor y tiempo para gozarlos! Health, money, love and time to enjoy them! Pesetas was the currency in Spain before the Euro
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1. HovawartFebruary 3, 2015 at 2:44 PM
  I learned it "Salud, amor, pesetas, y tiempo para disfrutarlas." Is this equally correct or is the above preferred?
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JayNovember 24, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Couple of days ago I saw the cop movie `End of watch` (2012) that has a nice example in it, which is what actually brought me here. I was interested in what seemed to be a traditional drinking phrase a Mexican familly did in the movie. Thanks and to good life!
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KenJune 16, 2014 at 10:29 PM
Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James used the phrase in several episodes of McMillan and Wife in the early Seventies.
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AnonymousSeptember 4, 2014 at 2:23 PM
"Down the hatch!", old boy.
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UnknownFebruary 11, 2015 at 5:58 PM
They just used this toast at the end of NCIS LA. Now I am going to rewind and see if they touched glasses correctly.
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1. psychburgandyMay 3, 2015 at 12:00 AM
  Yes, they did indeed.
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AnonymousSeptember 29, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Thanks for this wonderful toast, which I just learned yesterday from a good friend at lunch. I would HATE for anyone to think I learned it from an NCIS show! Much appreciate the older TV references, not to mention my original source!
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UnknownJune 20, 2016 at 5:57 PM
NCIA LA brought me here! Muy Bien, gracias !
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AnonymousSeptember 29, 2016 at 10:08 AM
this is a cool thing up and down in the middle hard
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TumbleweedsDecember 13, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Looking for a toast I saw at the Herradura Tequila ranch. ....el mano, ...el codo,...el cull, ...X#$ everything. Missing the verb forms for raise, bend, squeeze and ??? Any help?
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BylundJune 30, 2017 at 9:08 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_sGU1kkBQcY&sns=fb
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UnknownDecember 4, 2021 at 6:48 PM
In Ireland we do say, Hurry up and get it into the middle of you! We also love Spain, hasta luego mi amigos
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AnonymousJune 16, 2022 at 10:04 PM
When we were in Mexico, we took a boat to an island, snorkeling, etc. They were passing around tequila shots on the boat and would yell something that sounded like "un-doe-lay" ? What does that mean?
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1. RodneyJune 17, 2022 at 3:25 PM
  It sounds like what you heard was "Ándele", which in that context would be a form of encouragement, like "come on, let's do it", especially if one was reluctant to do so. I hope you had a good time, and I'd love to know if you took that shot!
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AnonymousNovember 4, 2022 at 8:42 PM
Thank you for the explanation/translation! We needed THAT! Salud!
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AnonymousMay 31, 2024 at 10:41 PM
Toast used when men get together after rehearsal dinner in movie Mother of the Bride starring Brooke Shields.
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