soda
gb/sˈoʊdə/ us/sˈoʊdə/
A2
English
~ 8400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
sweet carbonated soft drink
A sweet drink with bubbles, like cola or lemon-lime, that comes in a can or bottle.
Usage pattern:
a can of [soda]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'soda' is used everywhere in English for any fizzy drink. In many places, especially in the UK, people more often say 'fizzy drink' or 'soft drink', and 'soda' can sound American. Learners also sometimes confuse this meaning with 'baking soda' (a white powder used in cooking), which is a completely different thing.
Synonyms
soft drink (More general and slightly more formal; common in both US and UK English.)
|
pop (Mainly used in parts of the US and Canada; sounds more informal and regional.)
|
fizzy drink (Used mainly in British English; usually implies a sweet flavor as well.)
Antonyms
water (A plain, non-sweet, non-carbonated drink, contrasting with sweet, fizzy soda.)
Collocations
diet soda
|can of soda
|bottle of soda
|soda can
|soda machine
|soda tax
Themes
food
|daily life
|health
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- She grabbed a cold soda from the fridge before the movie started.
- Do you want a soda or just water with your meal?
- He’s trying to drink less soda because of the sugar.
- They sell huge cups of soda at the baseball stadium.
- I spilled my orange soda all over the table.
Learner examples
- I drink a can of soda at lunch.
- He does not like soda because it is too sweet.
- She bought a big soda at the store.
- Would you like soda or juice?
- This soda has a lemon taste.
Noun
B1
entity
2
plain carbonated drinking water
Water with bubbles in it, with no sugar, often mixed with other drinks.
Usage pattern:
to mix [soda] with [a drink]
Common mistake:
Learners often think 'soda' always means a sweet drink like cola. In some contexts, especially in older usage, recipes, or bar language, 'soda' or 'soda water' means plain carbonated water with no sugar. Check the context and collocations like 'whiskey and soda' or 'soda water' to recognize this meaning.
Synonyms
sparkling water (Common modern term; often used for bottled carbonated water that may be natural or artificial.)
Antonyms
still water (Water without carbonation, the direct opposite of fizzy, carbonated soda water.)
Collocations
soda water
|club soda
|soda with lime
|soda siphon
Themes
food
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- He ordered whiskey and soda at the bar.
- Could I get some soda with a slice of lemon, please?
- The recipe says to top the drink with soda and serve over ice.
- She prefers plain soda to sugary soft drinks.
- They filled the old soda siphon with fresh carbonated water.
Learner examples
- He drinks soda with lemon instead of cola.
- Please mix the juice with some soda.
- I like cold soda water on a hot day.
- She ordered a glass of soda and ice.
- They put soda on the table for the guests.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
sodium carbonate chemical compound
A white chemical powder called sodium carbonate, used for washing and in making glass and soap.
Usage pattern:
[soda] is used in [process]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical meaning with everyday 'soda' as a drink or with 'baking soda' (sodium bicarbonate). In chemical or industrial texts, 'soda' usually refers to sodium carbonate unless another form is clearly stated.
Synonyms
sodium carbonate (The precise chemical name; used in scientific and technical contexts.)
Antonyms
acid (A general opposite type of chemical to alkaline soda in acid–base reactions.)
Collocations
washing soda
|soda ash
|soda crystals
|soda glass
Themes
science
|chemistry
|industry
|daily_life
Examples
- Soda is an important raw material in the production of glass.
- Washing soda is a form of soda used to soften hard water.
- The factory stores large bags of soda for use in the manufacturing process.
- Adding soda to the mixture increases its alkalinity.
- Soda ash is obtained by processing common salt and limestone.
Learner examples
- The company uses soda to make glass.
- She buys washing soda to clean very dirty clothes.
- Soda helps remove stains from metal parts.
- Soda crystals are strong, so wear gloves.
- This type of soda is a chemical, not a drink.
Noun
B1
entity
4
sodium bicarbonate baking powder
A white powder called sodium bicarbonate, used in baking to make cakes rise and also for simple cleaning jobs.
Usage pattern:
add [soda] to [mixture]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'soda' in recipes means a fizzy drink, but it often means 'baking soda' (sodium bicarbonate), especially in older books or some varieties of English. Always check if the context talks about powder, teaspoons, or mixing with vinegar; in that case it is baking soda, not a beverage.
Synonyms
baking soda (The usual full term in everyday English; 'soda' alone is less common and more context-dependent.)
Antonyms
acid (In cooking and cleaning, acids like vinegar react with baking soda, so they are treated as opposites in use.)
Collocations
baking soda
|a pinch of soda
|soda and vinegar
|soda solution
Themes
food
|home
|science
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- If you add too much soda, the cake will taste bitter.
- The recipe calls for one teaspoon of soda and two of flour.
- She mixed soda with vinegar to clean the sink.
- In some older cookbooks, 'soda' means baking soda, not a drink.
- A pinch of soda can help soften dried chickpeas when cooking.
Learner examples
- Put a little soda in the cake mix.
- They use soda and vinegar to clean the drain.
- The bread did not rise because we forgot the soda.
- This soda is white powder, not a drink.
- My grandmother says to add soda to the beans.
Grammar
Dictionary form
soda
IPA
GB/sˈoʊdə/
US/sˈoʊdə/
Syllables & stress
soda (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (soda)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: soda
- Plural: soda, sodas
Word family
Forms
sodas
noun
Related words
sodium
noun B1
carbonated
adjective
Expressions
baking soda
1/bˈeɪkɪŋ sˈoʊdə/
fixed phrase
sodium bicarbonate for baking
A white powder used in baking to make cakes and bread rise, and also used for simple cleaning at home.
Examples
- We need more baking soda to make the cookies tonight.
- She cleaned the oven with a mix of baking soda and water.
- Add one teaspoon of baking soda to the dry ingredients.
club soda
1/klˈʌb sˈoʊdə/
fixed phrase
carbonated water with minerals
Carbonated water with added minerals, often used in mixed drinks or as a plain fizzy drink.
Examples
- He asked for vodka with club soda and lime.
- She drinks club soda instead of sweet soft drinks.
- The stain came out after they poured club soda on it.
cream soda
1/kɹˈim sˈoʊdə/
fixed phrase
vanilla-flavored fizzy drink
A sweet fizzy drink that usually tastes like vanilla and is light-colored.
Examples
- She ordered a cream soda with extra ice.
- Cream soda was his favorite treat as a child.
- The store sells cream soda in glass bottles.
diet soda
1/dˈaɪət sˈoʊdə/
fixed phrase
low-calorie soft drink
A sweet fizzy drink with very few or no calories, usually made with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar.
Examples
- She switched to diet soda to reduce her sugar intake.
- He ordered a burger, fries, and a diet soda.
- Some people drink diet soda every day instead of regular soda.
soda ash
1/sˈoʊdə ˈæʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
industrial sodium carbonate
Industrial sodium carbonate used in making glass and many chemical products.
Examples
- The plant imports large amounts of soda ash for glass production.
- Soda ash is a key raw material in many chemical processes.
- Global demand for soda ash has increased with the growth of the glass industry.
soda bread
1/sˈoʊdə bɹˈɛd/
fixed phrase
bread raised with baking soda
Bread that uses baking soda instead of yeast to make it rise.
Examples
- We baked Irish soda bread for the holiday.
- Soda bread is quick to make because it does not need time to rise.
- She served warm soda bread with butter and jam.
soda can
1/sˈoʊdə kən/
fixed phrase
metal can of soft drink
A metal container that holds one serving of soda.
Examples
- He crushed the empty soda can and threw it in the recycling bin.
- There is a half-finished soda can on the table.
- The machine takes only soda cans, not plastic bottles.
soda machine
1/sˈoʊdə məʃˈin/
fixed phrase
machine that serves soda
A machine that sells or pours soda, usually when you put in money or press a button.
Examples
- The soda machine in the hallway only takes coins.
- They installed a new soda machine in the break room.
- The soda machine was out of his favorite flavor.
soda pop
1/sˈoʊdə pˈɑp/
fixed phrase
informal
informal term for soft drink
An informal North American word for a sweet fizzy drink like cola or orange soda.
Examples
- The kids drank soda pop and ate popcorn at the party.
- He gave up soda pop to cut down on sugar.
- They sell every kind of soda pop you can imagine at that store.
soda water
1/sˈoʊdə wˈɔtɚ/
fixed phrase
plain fizzy drinking water
Water with bubbles in it, with no sugar, often drunk alone or mixed with other drinks.
Examples
- He ordered soda water with a slice of lime.
- The bartender topped up her drink with soda water.
- Soda water is a good choice if you want something fizzy but not sweet.
washing soda
1/wˈɔʃɪŋ sˈoʊdə/
fixed phrase
technical
sodium carbonate for washing
A strong cleaning powder made from sodium carbonate, used for washing clothes and heavy cleaning.
Examples
- She added washing soda to the laundry to help remove grease.
- Washing soda is stronger than baking soda and can irritate the skin.
- The instructions say to dissolve the washing soda before use.
soda fountain
1/sˈoʊdə fˈaʊntən/
fixed phrase
counter serving soft drinks
A place or machine in a shop or restaurant where people can get soda and other soft drinks, often mixed from syrup and carbonated water.
Examples
- He works at the soda fountain in the old-fashioned diner.
- They met as teenagers working at the local soda fountain.
- They ordered milkshakes from the soda fountain at the drugstore.
- The diner still has an old-fashioned soda fountain behind the counter.
- Customers can refill their cups at the self-serve soda fountain.