Spanish Conversation · Level 14
89 words
Spanish word
cena
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈθena/
Meaning
- feminine noundinner
Example
¿Qué hay para la cena?
What's for dinner?
More examples
¿A qué hora sirven la cena en este restaurante?
What time do they serve dinner in this restaurant?
Core concept
Evening family or social meal, usually lighter than midday food.
Common phrases
servir la cena
serve dinner
poner la cena
prepare dinner
cena familiar
family dinner
Similar words
comida: General main meal of the day, usable for the midday or evening meal.
almuerzo: Substantial midday meal eaten around noon or early afternoon.
desayuno: First meal of the day, eaten in the morning to start daily activities.
Definition in Spanish
Comida de la noche, habitual en el ámbito familiar o social y a veces más ligera que la comida del mediodía.
Word origin
The Spanish word cena derives from classical Latin cena 'supper' and in Spanish denotes the evening meal and also, in social contexts, a dinner event.
Usage tips
- The verb cenar is the usual verb for eating dinner, whereas comer is more general, so sentences about the evening meal normally use cenar rather than comer.