comedor
/koh-meh-DOR/
dining room
As a noun, comedor often refers to the dining room where meals are eaten.
comedor(noun)
dining room
?The room where meals are eaten.
mess hall
?Large institutional eating area (e.g., military, large school).
📝 In Action
La mesa del comedor es redonda y muy grande.
A1The dining room table is round and very large.
Pintamos el comedor de color verde claro para que se viera más luminoso.
A2We painted the dining room light green so it would look brighter.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Endings
Even though many Spanish words ending in -a are feminine, 'comedor' is masculine because it comes from the verb 'comer' plus the masculine suffix '-dor'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Comedor' and 'Cocina'
Mistake: "Voy a cocinar en el comedor. (I'm going to cook in the dining room.)"
Correction: Voy a cocinar en la cocina. (I'm going to cook in the kitchen.) The 'comedor' is only for eating, not preparing food.
⭐ Usage Tips
Origin Reminder
Remember that 'comedor' literally means 'the place for eating,' which helps distinguish it from other rooms like 'sala' (living room).
Comedor can also mean an institutional food service, such as a school lunch program or cafeteria.
comedor(noun)
school lunch program
?Institutional service, especially in schools.
soup kitchen
?Charitable eating facility (Comedor social).
,diner
?A person who eats at an institutional facility (less common).
📝 In Action
El comedor escolar es obligatorio para todos los niños.
B1The school lunch program is mandatory for all children.
Mi abuela es voluntaria en un comedor social cerca de la iglesia.
B2My grandmother volunteers at a soup kitchen near the church.
💡 Grammar Points
Referring to the Service
When 'comedor' refers to the service or program (like a school lunch), it often takes the definite article 'el' and is frequently paired with adjectives like 'escolar' or 'social'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'el comedor' in a school or charity setting, it almost always means the institution's meal service, not just the physical room.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comedor
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'comedor' to mean a social service or program, rather than a room?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'dining room table'?
The most common way is 'la mesa del comedor.' Remember to use the preposition 'de' (of) to connect the two nouns.
What is the feminine form of 'comedor'?
If you are referring to the room or service, it is always masculine ('el comedor'). If you are referring to a person who eats there (a diner), the feminine form is 'comedora' (la comedora), though this is less common than using a generic term like 'clienta' or 'usuaria'.