tienda
/ˈtjenda/feminine
In Spanish, the word for shop is tienda. Wiktionary also lists negocio and comercio.
Meaning: establishment that sells goods (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tienda | /ˈtjenda/ | feminine |
| negocio | /neˈɡoθjo/ /neˈɡosjo/ |
masculine |
| comercio | /koˈmeɾθjo/ /koˈmeɾsjo/ |
masculine |
| almacén | /almaˈθen/ /almaˈsen/ |
masculine |
The primary way to refer to a retail establishment is with tienda. If you want to describe the activity of shopping for pleasure or goods, use the idiomatic phrase ir de compras.
Which one should you use?
tienda is the most common and general word for a retail shop or store. negocio refers more to the business or commercial enterprise itself rather than just the physical retail space. comercio is a more formal or technical term used to refer to trade, commerce or a commercial establishment. almacén typically refers to a warehouse or a large department store/general store.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
tienda is a feminine noun. Its plural form is tiendas. negocio is a masculine noun. Its plural form is negocios.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtjenda/
Did you know?
- The word tienda is a direct relative of the English word 'tent'. This is because early shops were often temporary structures made of canvas.
- In some regions, a very small neighborhood shop is colloquially called a bodega, which literally translates to 'winery'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the local tienda serves as a vital social hub for the neighborhood, not just a place to buy goods.
Examples in context
- ¡Ve a la tienda!Go to the shop.This sentence is useful for giving a command to go to a specific shop using tienda.Tatoeba #1897567 by Shishir, translation #4021410 by hellosunshine
- Me voy a la tienda.I am going to the shop.This sentence shows how to express that you are currently going to the shop using tienda.Tatoeba #1239000 by marcelostockle, translation #654928 by cl
- Ha ido a la tienda.He went to the shop.This sentence describes the action of having gone to the shop using tienda.Tatoeba #2081261 by Shishir, translation #371435 by saeb
- Podemos encontrar una tienda de ropa en esa calle.We can find a clothing shop on that street.
- Me gustaría visitar algunos establecimientos de antigüedades en esta área.I would like to visit some antique shops in this area.
- ¡Vamos a la tienda de música a buscar nuevos discos!Let's go to the music shop to look for new records!
- Compré estas golosinas en la tiendita de la esquina.I bought these candies at the small shop on the corner.
- Voy a la bodega para comprar pan y leche.I'm going to the shop to buy bread and milk.
- El comercio local está sufriendo debido a las grandes superficies.Local shop trade is suffering due to large stores.
- 137 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are planning their afternoon errands.
- Javier¿Vas a ir a la tienda, María?Are you going to the shop, María?
- MaríaSí, necesito comprar algunas cosas.Yes, I need to buy some things.
- JavierYo también tengo que ir a la tienda.I also have to go to the shop.
- MaríaEntonces, podemos ir juntos.Then, we can go together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shop” translations and entries tienda, negocio, comercio, almacén, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries almacén, comercio, negocio, tienda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
