almuerzo escolar
/almweɾθo eskolaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "school lunch" is almuerzo escolar in Spanish.
Almuerzo escolar refers to a meal provided to students during the school day. While it specifically refers to the lunch meal, you might also encounter the more general term comida escolar, which means "school meal."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of almuerzo (lunch) and escolar (school-related/pertaining to school).
Which one should you use?
Almuerzo escolar specifically refers to the lunch meal, whereas comida escolar is a more general term for any food provided at school.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some Central American countries, the informal term lonche escolar is used to refer to school lunch. In Argentina and Uruguay, vianda escolar is used to refer to school lunch.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun almuerzo and the adjective escolar must take the plural suffix '-s', resulting in almuerzos escolares.
How do you pronounce it?
/almweɾθo eskolaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word almuerzo shares a root with the Latin verb admordere, meaning 'to bite'. Literally, the word suggests the first 'bite' or snack taken after waking up.
- The term lonche, used in Mexico and Central America, is a direct loanword from the English 'lunch'. It has been adapted to Spanish phonology and grammar over time.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the concept of almuerzo can shift depending on the region. In some places it refers to a mid-morning snack, while in others it is the main meal of the day.
Examples in context
- En el colegio de mi hijo sirven un excelente almuerzo escolar todos los días.At my son's school, they serve an excellent school lunch every day.
- El almuerzo escolar es gratuito.The school lunch is free.
- El almuerzo escolar es gratis hoy.The school lunch is free today.
- No me gusta el almuerzo escolar.I do not like the school lunch.
- Ellos compraron un almuerzo escolar.They bought a school lunch.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the hallway about their meal.
- Sofía¿Qué tal tu almuerzo escolar, Alejandro?How was your school lunch, Alejandro?
- AlejandroEstaba muy rico, Sofía.It was very tasty, Sofía.
- SofíaYo prefiero traer mi propia comida.I prefer to bring my own food.
- AlejandroA mí me gusta el almuerzo escolar.I like the school lunch.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries almuerzo, escolar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
