autoservicio
/autoseɾbiθjo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "drive thru" is translated into Spanish as autoservicio.
The term autoservicio is used to describe the service where customers order and receive goods without leaving their cars. It can refer to the service model itself or the physical lane and window at a restaurant (el autoservicio).
How do you pronounce it?
/autoseɾbiθjo/
Did you know?
- While autoservicio means 'drive thru' in some regions, it is also the standard term for a self-service supermarket where customers push their own carts.
- The word autoservicio is a calque, meaning it was created by translating the English 'self-service' word-for-word into Spanish.
- The word ventanilla describes the physical window of a drive-thru and literally means 'little window'.
Examples in context
- Pide por el autoservicio.Order through the drive-thru.
- Pide la comida por el autoservicio.Order the food through the drive thru.
- Hay mucha fila en el autoservicio de este restaurante.There is a long line at this restaurant's drive thru.
- Prefiero usar el autoservicio para no bajar del coche.I prefer using the drive thru so I don't have to get out of the car.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are deciding how to get lunch.
- AlejandroElena, ¿quieres bajar del coche para comer?Elena, do you want to get out of the car to eat?
- ElenaNo, mejor usemos el autoservicio.No, let's use the drive thru instead.
- AlejandroEstá bien, yo pido las hamburguesas.All right, I will order the burgers.
- ElenaPerfecto, gracias Alejandro.Perfect, thanks Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries autoservicio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
