Inklingo
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bodega

/boh-DEH-gah/

winery

A cool, dark interior of a wine cellar showing rows of large wooden barrels stacked high, used for aging wine.

This image represents a bodega as a winery, where wine is made and stored in barrels.

bodega(noun)

fB1

winery

?

Place where wine is made and stored

,

wine cellar

?

Underground room for aging wine

📝 In Action

Visitamos una bodega antigua en La Rioja para probar el vino.

B1

We visited an old winery in La Rioja to taste the wine.

El vino tiene que madurar en la oscuridad de la bodega.

B2

The wine has to mature in the darkness of the cellar.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • viñedo (vineyard)
  • cava (cellar (often for sparkling wine))

Common Collocations

  • dueño de la bodega – winery owner
  • ruta de bodegas – wine route/trail

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun

Since 'bodega' ends in '-a', it is a feminine word, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

⭐ Usage Tips

Wine Culture

In Spanish wine regions (like Spain and Argentina), visiting a 'bodega' is a key tourist activity, similar to visiting a vineyard.

The colorful interior of a small, vibrant corner store, showing shelves packed tightly with various groceries, snacks, and brightly colored packaged goods.

In many Spanish-speaking regions, bodega refers to a small corner store or grocery shop.

bodega(noun)

fA2

corner store

?

Small general grocery shop

,

convenience store

?

Neighborhood shop selling everyday items

Also:

small grocery store

?

Retail establishment

📝 In Action

Voy a la bodega a comprar leche y pan.

A2

I'm going to the corner store to buy milk and bread.

La bodega de Don Pedro está abierta hasta tarde.

B1

Don Pedro's shop is open late.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tienda (store)
  • colmado (small grocery (Caribbean))

Common Collocations

  • la bodega de la esquina – the corner shop

❌ Common Pitfalls

Regional Confusion

Mistake: "Using 'bodega' to mean a small shop in Spain."

Correction: In Spain, use 'tienda' or 'supermercado'. 'Bodega' there usually means a wine cellar or warehouse.

⭐ Usage Tips

New York City Spanish

If you hear 'bodega' in the US (especially NYC), it almost always refers to a small, often family-run, convenience store.

A modest, dusty storage room interior showing simple wooden shelves holding stacked cardboard boxes and miscellaneous household items.

This image shows a bodega meaning a general storage room or cellar for keeping miscellaneous items.

bodega(noun)

fB1

storage room

?

A general room for keeping items

,

warehouse

?

Large building for storing goods

Also:

ship's hold

?

Cargo area of a boat or plane

📝 In Action

Guardamos los muebles viejos en la bodega del edificio.

B1

We keep the old furniture in the building's storage room.

El cargamento fue depositado en la bodega del avión.

B2

The cargo was deposited in the hold of the plane.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • almacén (warehouse / depot)
  • trastero (small utility room)

Common Collocations

  • espacio de bodega – storage space

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

If you are talking about shipping or logistics, 'bodega' usually refers to the cargo hold or a large warehouse for industrial goods.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: bodega

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Madrid and someone invites you to visit a 'bodega', which meaning is most likely?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

bodeguero(winemaker or shopkeeper) - noun
bodegón(still life painting or large tavern) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'bodega' masculine or feminine?

'Bodega' is always a feminine noun. You must use 'la bodega' or 'una bodega'.

Why does 'bodega' mean two different things: a winery and a small store?

Both meanings evolved from the original idea of a 'storage place.' In Spain, it stuck to storing wine (winery/cellar). In some parts of Latin America and the US, it expanded to mean a small place where general goods are stored and sold (a corner store).