German Conversation · Level 5
89 words
German word
Cafeteria
Pronunciation
IPA/kafeteˈʁiːa/
Meaning
- feminine nouncafeteria
Example
An der Uni sind die Cafeterias oft voll.
University cafeterias are often crowded.
More examples
Ich habe das Cafeteria-Menü gewählt, weil es günstig war.
I chose the cafeteria meal because it was inexpensive.
Core concept
A practical dining area where people select prepared food at a counter before sitting down to eat.
Common phrases
ein Cafeteria-Menü wählen
choose a cafeteria meal
die Cafeteria besuchen
visit the cafeteria
Mittags in der Cafeteria essen
eat in the cafeteria at lunchtime
Similar words
Mensa: An affordable self-service dining hall for university students.
Kantine: A workplace dining hall serving set meals to employees.
Bistro: A small eatery offering light meals and drinks for seated customers.
Restaurant: A dining establishment where servers bring ordered food to the table.
Definition in German
Cafeteria bezeichnet ein einfaches Selbstbedienungsrestaurant an Orten wie Universität, Schule oder Betrieb.
Word origin
Cafeteria entered German as an international borrowing from English cafeteria, ultimately related to Spanish cafetería and café.
Usage tips
- After prepositions such as in for location, Cafeteria takes the dative article in der, as in in der Cafeteria.