Spanish word

cantina

Pronunciation

IPA/kanˈtina/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncafeteria

Example

Vamos a la cantina a comer.

Let's go to the cafeteria to eat.

Illustration for cantina (cafeteria)

More examples

¿Hay comida vegetariana en la cantina?

Is there vegetarian food in the cafeteria?

Core concept

Informal place serving drinks and simple dishes, used as a bar or as a company or school cafeteria.

Common phrases

  • comer en la cantina

    eat in the cafeteria

  • menú de la cantina

    cafeteria menu

  • la cantina escolar

    school cafeteria

Similar words

cafetería: Small shop or counter selling coffee, light meals, pastries, and ready-to-eat snacks.
bar: Establishment centered on serving alcoholic drinks, often lively at night with light food.
restaurante: Full-service eatery where diners order cooked dishes and are served at tables.
comedor: Communal dining hall that provides scheduled meals, typically for students or employees.

Definition in Spanish

Local informal donde se sirven bebidas y platos sencillos, que puede funcionar como bar o como cafetería de empresa o escuela.

Word origin

From Italian cantina 'cellar, storeroom', originally a place for storing provisions that became the name for venues selling or serving food and drink.

Usage tips

  • Cantina can refer to either a casual bar or an institutional cafeteria, so speakers often use bar or cafetería to make the sense explicit.

Other meanings

  • barnoun

Related words

  • cantinerobartendernoun

Word lists with this word