Spanish Conversation · Level 56
72 words
Spanish word
cafetería
Pronunciation
IPA/kafeteˈɾia/
Meaning
- feminine nouncoffee shop
Example
¿Quieres ir a la cafetería esta tarde?
Do you want to go to the coffee shop this afternoon?
More examples
¿Qué sueles pedir en la cafetería?
What do you usually order at the coffee shop?
Core concept
Shop counter with takeaway cups and a display of pastries.
Common phrases
ir a la cafetería
go to the coffee shop
pedir en la cafetería
order at the coffee shop
trabajar en la cafetería
work at the coffee shop
Similar words
café: Coffeehouse offering hot drinks and snacks with seating for leisurely stays.
bar: Drinking establishment centered on beverages, sometimes with quick bar snacks.
restaurante: Dining establishment where the focus is full-course meals served at tables.
panadería: Bread shop that bakes and sells fresh bread and other baked goods.
Definition in Spanish
Negocio donde se sirve café y, en muchos casos, comidas ligeras para comer allí o para llevar.
Word origin
Derived from café plus the suffix -ería that marks a shop or place, with café ultimately from Arabic qahwa.
Usage tips
- Cafetería carries an acute accent on the i to mark stress on the -ría syllable, and English cafeteria (no accent) often refers to a self-service institutional canteen rather than a coffee shop.