Spanish word

comensal

Pronunciation

IPA/komenˈsal/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)fellow diner

Example

Cuando llegué, mi comensal ya había empezado a comer.

When I arrived, my fellow diner had already started eating.

Illustration for comensal (fellow diner)

More examples

Reservaron una mesa para cuatro comensales.

They reserved a table for four diners.

Core concept

Person eating with others at the same table.

Common phrases

  • mesa para comensales

    table for diners

  • lista de comensales

    list of diners

  • comensal de negocios

    business dining companion

Similar words

invitado: Person invited to share a meal.
acompañante: Person accompanying someone at a meal.
compañero de mesa: Tablemate who sits with others to eat.

Definition in Spanish

Persona que come junto con otras personas en la misma mesa o comida.

Word origin

Spanish comensal derives from medieval Latin comensalis, literally 'sharing a table', from com- 'together' and mensa 'table'.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech speakers often prefer compañero de mesa or compañero de comida instead of comensal, which appears more in formal or written contexts.

Other meanings

  • dinernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word