Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cantine | /kɑ̃.tin/ | feminine |
| réfectoire | /ʁe.fɛk.twaʁ/ | masculine |
The most common ways to refer to a cafeteria include cantine and la cafétéria. In educational settings, you will often hear le restaurant universitaire used to describe the dining area. Other terms describe specific types of service or settings: le self is used for cafeteria-style dining, and le restau-U is a common informal way to refer to a university cafeteria.
Which one should you use?
cantine is the standard term, particularly used by students in a school context. réfectoire is a more formal or traditional term, typically reserved for dining halls in large institutions, boarding schools or monasteries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, speakers may use the informal abbreviation la cafété in spoken French.
How does it change in a sentence?
cantine is a feminine noun, while réfectoire is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɑ̃.tin/
When do people say it?
In a school setting, students typically refer to their dining area simply as la cantine.
Did you know?
- The word cantine was borrowed into French from the Italian word cantina, which refers to a wine cellar.
- In France, the cantine is often a site of political debate because the government strictly regulates the nutritional content and origin of school meals.
- The word cantine is also used in military contexts to refer to a soldiers' canteen or a small shop where personnel can buy supplies.
Examples in context
- La cantine était un self.The cafeteria was self-service.This sentence shows how to describe a cafeteria as a self-service establishment using cantine.Tatoeba #12430021 by zogwarg, translation #268768 by CK
- La cantine est-elle déjà ouverte ?Is the cafeteria open yet?This sentence is useful for asking if the cafeteria is currently open using cantine.Tatoeba #3412007 by sacredceltic, translation #3396428 by CK
- Le monsieur de la cantine est où ?Where's the cafeteria cook?This sentence demonstrates how to refer to a person working at the cafeteria using cantine.Tatoeba #13275535 by menaud, translation #13275536 by menaud
- Nous nous retrouverons à la cafétéria après le coursWe will meet at the cafeteria after class.
- Je déjeune souvent au restaurant universitaireI often have lunch at the university cafeteria.
- J'ai mangé à la cantine de l'hôpitalI had lunch at the hospital cafeteria.
- On se retrouve au restau-U pour manger ce midi ?Shall we meet at the university cafeteria for lunch?
- On se retrouve au self pour manger ensembleLet's meet at the cafeteria to have lunch together.
- On va chercher de la bouffe à la cafétériaLet's go get some food at the cafeteria.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are deciding where to eat during their break.
- LucasOn mange à la cantine ?Shall we eat at the cafeteria?
- LéaOui, la cantine de l'école est sympa.Yes, the school cafeteria is nice.
- LucasTu veux y aller maintenant ?Do you want to go there now?
- LéaOui, j'ai très faim.Yes, I am very hungry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cafeteria” translations and entries cantine, réfectoire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cantine, réfectoire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
