Dinner Time

'Cena' is a feminine word, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it. For example, 'la cena' (the dinner) or 'una cena' (a dinner).

Always Feminine

'Cena' is specifically the evening meal. For the midday meal, use 'almuerzo' or 'comida', and for the morning meal, use 'desayuno'.

Meal of the Day

Extremely common, used daily by millions of speakers to refer to the evening meal.

Using 'tener cena'

The word 'cena' can mean 'he/she has dinner' (a statement) or 'Have dinner!' (a friendly command). The situation usually makes it clear which one is meant.

Two Meanings in One

As a statement, it describes what someone does: 'Ella cena con su familia'. As a command, you're telling a friend what to do: '¡Cena algo antes de salir!'

Statement vs. Command

A very common verb form used in everyday conversation. It's a form of the infinitive 'cenar'.

Learn the meaning of 'cena' in Spanish. See definitions for the noun 'dinner' and the verb form 'he/she has dinner', plus full 'cenar' conjugations, examples, and usage tips.

cenar

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

preterite

imperfect

future

conditional

subjunctive

present

imperfect

imperative

affirmative

negative

Practice Conjugations