cenar
seh-nar
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿A qué hora vamos a cenar?
A1What time are we going to have dinner?
Anoche cené pescado con verduras.
A2Last night I had fish and vegetables for dinner.
Nos invitaron a cenar en su casa nueva.
B1They invited us to have dinner at their new house.
No he cenado nada todavía, tengo mucha hambre.
B1I haven't had anything for dinner yet, I'm very hungry.
💡 Grammar Points
'Cenar' is a complete action
In English, you say 'I have dinner'. In Spanish, the verb 'cenar' already includes the idea of 'having' or 'eating' the meal. You don't need another verb with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'tener' (to have)
Mistake: "Voy a tener cena con mis amigos."
Correction: Voy a cenar con mis amigos. The verb 'cenar' means 'to have dinner' all by itself, so you don't need 'tener'.
⭐ Usage Tips
When is 'la cena'?
Dinner time varies by country. In Spain, it's common to 'cenar' very late, around 9 or 10 PM. In many Latin American countries, dinner is often earlier, closer to 7 or 8 PM.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cenar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'I am having dinner with my family'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'cenar' and 'comer'?
'Comer' is the general verb 'to eat' and can be used for any meal. 'Cenar' is specific and only means 'to have dinner/supper', the evening meal. For example, you can say 'voy a comer pizza' (I'm going to eat pizza) at any time, but you would only say 'voy a cenar pizza' (I'm going to have pizza for dinner) in the evening.
Can 'cena' be used as a verb?
No, 'cena' is the noun for 'dinner'. For example, 'La cena está lista' (Dinner is ready). 'Cenar' is the verb 'to have dinner'. For example, 'Vamos a cenar' (Let's have dinner).