Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| comedor | /komeˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| cantina | /kanˈtina/ | feminine |
| casino | /kaˈsino/ | masculine |
The term used depends on the specific type of dining area you are describing. While comedor is a general term for a dining area, other words like cantina or casino describe specific types of establishments or locations.
Which one should you use?
comedor is the most general term for a dining area, such as a dining room in a house or a dining hall in a school. In contrast, cantina often refers to a smaller, more informal cafeteria or a snack bar, frequently found in workplaces or schools. The word casino is used in specific contexts, such as military bases or certain clubs, to refer to a dining hall or mess hall.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun comedor requires the definite article el. The feminine noun cantina requires the definite article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/komeˈdoɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the Spanish word cafetería to mean a large dining hall. In Spanish, cafetería usually refers specifically to a coffee shop or cafe.
Did you know?
- The term casino for a dining hall is a linguistic remnant of military and social club traditions, rather than referring to a gambling house.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you ask for a cantina, you might end up in a bar serving alcohol rather than a school cafeteria.
- The word casino comes from the Italian word for a 'small house', which originally referred to a summer house or a retreat.
Examples in context
- Me gusta comer en el comedor.I like to eat in the cafeteria.Tatoeba #5302422 by baudelaire, translation #13425472 by rul
- Como en la cantina de la empresa.I eat in the company cafeteria.Tatoeba #6730196 by arh, translation #9676639 by DJ_Saidez
- Vamos a tomar un café en la cafetería del hotel.Let's have a coffee at the hotel cafeteria.
- El colegio tiene un comedor para los estudiantes.The school has a cafeteria for the students.
- Los estudiantes almuerzan en el restaurante escolar todos los días.The students have lunch at the school restaurant every day.
- ¿Vamos a tomar algo en el café de la esquina?Shall we have something at the café on the corner?
- Me gusta comer en el kiosco del parque. Tienen buenas empanadas.I like eating at the snack bar in the park. They have delicious empanadas.
- El comedor está muy lleno hoy.The dining area is very full today.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are looking for a place to eat lunch.
- Daniel¿Dónde está el comedor?Where is the cafeteria?
- ElenaEstá al final del pasillo, Daniel.It is at the end of the hallway, Daniel.
- DanielGracias, Elena. Vamos allá.Thanks, Elena. Let's go there.
- ElenaTengo mucha hambre.I am very hungry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cafeteria” translations and entries comedor, cantina, casino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cantina, casino, comedor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
