Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pulpería | /pulpeˈɾia/ | Central America, feminine |
| chino | /ˈt͡ʃino/ | Spain, colloquial, masculine |
| bodega | /boˈdeɡa/ | Latin America, feminine |
| abacería | /abaθeˈɾia/ /abaseˈɾia/ |
feminine |
| encomendería | /enkomendeɾia/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to a small retail store (noun).
Which one should you use?
While the terms in this guide are often regional or colloquial, tienda de conveniencia is the literal and more formal way to express this concept across the entire Spanish-speaking world. You might also hear tienda de la esquina, which translates to 'corner store' and is an informal way to refer to such a shop.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tienda de conveniencia is the formal option. In contrast, chino is a colloquial term and tienda de la esquina is an informal way to describe a local shop.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Central America, pulpería is used to denote a small local shop. In many Latin American countries, bodega is the standard term for a small neighborhood grocery or convenience store. In Spain, the colloquial term chino is often used to refer to small convenience stores, frequently based on the stereotype of many such shops being owned by people of Chinese descent.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine noun bodega forms its plural by adding -s to become bodegas.
How do you pronounce it?
/pulpeˈɾia/
Did you know?
- The word bodega shares a common ancestor with the English word 'boutique' and the Spanish word botica, both coming from the Greek word for 'storehouse'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, ¿puede indicarme dónde está la tienda de conveniencia más cercana?Excuse me, can you tell me where the nearest convenience store is?
- ¿Sabes si hay un minimercado por aquí cerca?Do you know if there's a convenience store around here?
- Vamos a pasar por la tienda de la esquina para comprar leche.We're going to stop by the corner store to buy milk.
- Puedes comprar los refrescos en el chino de la calle principal.You can buy the sodas at the convenience store on the main street.
- Voy a la pulpería a comprar pan.I am going to the convenience store to buy bread.
- La pulpería cierra muy tarde.The convenience store closes very late.
- Necesito pasar por la pulpería.I need to stop by the convenience store.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking in their kitchen in the morning.
- Lucía¿Podés ir a la pulpería, Mateo?Can you go to the convenience store, Mateo?
- MateoSí, ¿qué necesitás que traiga?Yes, what do you need me to bring?
- LucíaTraé leche y huevos, por favor.Bring milk and eggs, please.
- MateoEstá bien, vuelvo enseguida.Okay, I'll be back soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “convenience store” translations and entries pulpería, chino, bodega, abacería, encomendería, 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 abacería, bodega, chino, pulpería, CC BY-SA 4.0.
