catering
/ˈkeiteɾin/masculine
In Spanish, catering can be translated as catering or servicio banquetero. Wiktionary also lists banquetería.
Meaning: the business of providing food and related services (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| catering | /ˈkeiteɾin/ | masculine |
| servicio banquetero | /seɾbiθjo banketeɾo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /seɾbisjo banketeɾo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| banquetería | /banketeɾia/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to the business of providing food and related services. You can use banquetería to refer specifically to the catering industry or the establishment itself.
Which one should you use?
While catering is a common loanword, servicio banquetero specifically implies a banqueting service. Banquetería is used when discussing the industry or the business entity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the term servicio banquetero is frequently used to refer to the catering business.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the loanword catering, it is a masculine noun and is used with the definite article el (e.g., el catering).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkeiteɾin/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word banquete refers to a massive, formal feast rather than just a professional catering service. Using it to describe a small, casual catering job might sound quite dramatic to a native speaker.
- The term banquete shares an ancestral connection with the Italian word banco, which means 'table' or 'counter'. This links the idea of a feast to the physical furniture used for service.
- The term banquetero uses the suffix -ero, which in Spanish often denotes a person's profession or a place where things are kept. This suffix is the same one found in words like panadero for 'baker' or ingeniero for 'engineer'.
Examples in context
- Preparé el catering para la fiesta de mañana.I arranged catering for tomorrow's party.This sentence shows how to use catering to describe arranging food for an event.Tatoeba #2436341 by fgreco, translation #323141 by CK
- Estoy organizando una reunión de negocios y necesito contratar un servicio de catering.I am organizing a business meeting and need to hire a catering service.
- El bufé de la boda estuvo maravilloso. Contratamos un excelente servicio de catering.The wedding buffet was amazing. We hired an excellent catering service.
- El catering de la boda fue excelente.The wedding catering was excellent.
- Necesitamos contratar un catering para el evento corporativo.We need to hire a catering service for the corporate event.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are discussing the menu for a party.
- Elena¿Ya elegiste el catering para tu cumpleaños?Have you already chosen the catering for your birthday?
- MateoNo, todavía estoy buscando opciones para el catering.No, I am still looking at catering options.
- ElenaSi quieres, yo puedo recomendarte un buen catering.If you want, I can recommend a good catering service to you.
- MateoGracias, Elena, eso me ayudaría mucho.Thanks, Elena, that would help me a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “catering” translations and entries catering, banquetería, 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 banquetero, catering, servicio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
