cafetería
/kah-feh-TEH-ree-ah/
coffee shop
In many contexts, a cafetería refers to a cozy coffee shop or small business primarily serving coffee and pastries.
cafetería(noun)
coffee shop
?A small business primarily serving coffee and pastries
,cafe
?A casual establishment for refreshments
snack bar
?In certain regions, emphasizing the light food offered
📝 In Action
Quedamos en la cafetería de la esquina para hablar.
A1We met at the corner coffee shop to talk.
¿Pedimos un café con leche y un cruasán en la cafetería?
A2Should we order a latte and a croissant at the cafe?
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'cafetería' is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'café' and 'cafetería'
Mistake: "Voy a tomar un cafetería."
Correction: Voy a tomar un café. ('Cafetería' is the building; 'café' is the drink.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Nuances
In Spain, small 'bares' often function just like 'cafeterías' and serve full breakfast and coffee throughout the day.
Alternatively, cafetería can translate to 'cafeteria,' meaning a self-service dining hall often found in schools or offices.
cafetería(noun)
cafeteria
?A dining hall, especially in a school or office
canteen
?British English term for a staff or institutional dining room
,dining hall
?Formal term for a large institutional eating space
📝 In Action
Los estudiantes comen el almuerzo en la cafetería escolar.
A2The students eat lunch in the school cafeteria.
La cafetería de la empresa cierra a las tres de la tarde.
B1The company dining hall closes at three in the afternoon.
💡 Grammar Points
Institutional Use
When 'cafetería' is used in this sense, it almost always implies a large, internal dining space rather than a standalone commercial business.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cafetería
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cafetería' to mean a large, institutional dining hall?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cafetería' the same as 'café'?
'Cafetería' is the physical building or establishment. 'Café' can mean both the drink (coffee) and the place (a cafe/coffee shop). In many Spanish-speaking areas, 'café' is often used interchangeably with 'cafetería' when talking about the place.
How do I know if 'cafetería' means a coffee shop or a dining hall?
Look at the context! If it's attached to a large place like a 'universidad' (university), 'hospital' (hospital), or 'fábrica' (factory), it usually means the institutional dining hall (cafeteria). If it's on a 'calle' (street) or 'esquina' (corner), it usually means the commercial coffee shop.