bufé
/buˈfe/masculine
The Spanish word for buffet is bufé. Wiktionary also lists bufet and ambigú.
Meaning: food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bufé | /buˈfe/ | masculine |
| bufet | /bufet/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| ambigú | /ambiˈɡu/ | masculine |
| comida | /koˈmida/ | feminine |
| servicio de comida | /seɾbiθjo de komida/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /seɾbisjo de komida/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
The term refers to food.
Which one should you use?
bufé is the standard term, while ambigú is a more formal or literary term used to describe a buffet or a variety of foods set out for guests. bufet is a common alternative to bufé in many Spanish-speaking regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term pica-pica is used in Spain and some Latin American countries to refer to a buffet of appetizers or finger foods. In certain regions of Mexico, the word taquiza is used to describe a type of buffet-style meal that focuses on tacos. In Argentina, a buffet focusing on savory dishes is commonly referred to as mesa de salados. In Argentina, a buffet focusing on sweet dishes is commonly referred to as mesa dulce.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of bufé is bufés.
How do you pronounce it?
/buˈfe/
Did you know?
- The formal word ambigú is a linguistic sibling of the English word 'ambiguous'. Both come from a French term for a room situated between a dining room and a salon.
- In Spain, the phrase pica-pica describes a buffet of appetizers, but it literally translates to 'pick-pick'. It evokes the sound or action of snacking on small bits of food.
- In high-end historical Spanish architecture, an ambigú was not just a food spread but a physical transition space in a house used for serving refreshments.
Examples in context
- Dos para el bufé del almuerzo, por favor.Two for the lunch buffet, please.This sentence is useful for requesting a place at a lunch buffet using bufé.Tatoeba #5780664 by albrusgher, translation #29720 by CK
- ¿Puedes mostrarme lo que estás sirviendo en el bufé?Could you show me what you're serving in the buffet?This sentence is useful for asking someone to show you the items being served in a buffet using bufé.Tatoeba #5780661 by albrusgher, translation #35106 by Zifre
- La principal característica de la conferencia es el bufé.The principal feature of the conference is the buffet.This sentence is useful for describing the buffet as a key feature of a conference using bufé.Tatoeba #5780660 by albrusgher, translation #3284053 by pengpau
- Habrá un bufé libre en la recepción de la conferencia.There will be a buffet at the conference reception.
- Vayamos a ese lugar de autoservicio. Tienen un gran buffet de ensaladas.Let's go to that self-service place, they have a great salad buffet.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are deciding where to eat dinner.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿quieres ir al bufé de hotel?Daniel, do you want to go to the hotel buffet?
- DanielNo, prefiero un restaurante con menú.No, I prefer a restaurant with a menu.
- LucíaPero el bufé tiene mucha variedad.But the buffet has a lot of variety.
- DanielEs cierto, pero busco algo más tranquilo.That's true, but I'm looking for something quieter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buffet” translations and entries bufé, bufet, ambigú, comida, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ambigú, bufé, comida, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
