despensa
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico a pantry is a despensa or an alacena. Despensa is the food storage room or the stock of groceries itself, while alacena is the built-in cupboard in the kitchen.
Meaning: room or cupboard for storing food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| despensa | everyday, Mexico |
| Alacena | Mexico, cupboard |
In a Mexican home you may hear Está en la alacena for something on a kitchen shelf, and Falta surtir la despensa when the groceries are running low.
Which one should you use?
Despensa also means the supplies you buy, so hacer la despensa is a Mexican way to say "do the grocery shopping". Alacena is only the place where things are kept.
Did you know?
- The word alacena comes from Arabic, like many Spanish household words that start with al-.
Examples in context
- Guarda el arroz en la alacena.Put the rice in the pantry.
- Hoy hay que hacer la despensa.Today we have to do the grocery shopping.
- La despensa está casi vacía.The pantry is almost empty.
Example conversation
Doña Elena and her son Beto unpack groceries in their kitchen in Puebla.
- Doña ElenaBeto, guarda las latas en la alacena.Beto, put the cans in the pantry.
- BetoMamá, ¿y el arroz?Mom, and the rice?
- Doña ElenaTambién. Ya casi se llena la despensa.That too. The pantry is almost full now.
