desayuno
“desayuno” means “breakfast” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
breakfast
Also: morning meal
📝 In Action
Mi desayuno favorito es café con tostadas.
A1My favorite breakfast is coffee with toast.
¿A qué hora sirven el desayuno en el hotel?
A2What time do they serve breakfast at the hotel?
I have breakfast
Also: he/she/you (formal) has breakfast
📝 In Action
Yo desayuno muy temprano antes de ir al trabajo.
A1I have breakfast very early before going to work.
Siéntese y desayuno con usted.
B1Sit down, and I'll have breakfast with you. (Or: 'Sit down, and you (formal) have breakfast with me' - if used as an imperative.)
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desayuno
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'desayuno' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'desayuno' has a clear and logical origin. It comes from the verb 'desayunar,' which combines the prefix 'des-' (meaning 'un-' or 'to undo') and the word 'ayuno' (meaning 'fasting'). Therefore, the verb literally means 'to undo the fast,' referencing the meal that breaks the overnight fast.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'desayuno' means the noun or the verb?
If you see a small word like 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) directly before it, it is the noun (El desayuno). If you see a subject pronoun like 'Yo' (I) before it, or if it stands alone at the start of a command, it is the verb (Yo desayuno).
Is 'desayuno' the same as 'almuerzo'?
No. 'Desayuno' is always breakfast (the first meal). 'Almuerzo' means lunch in most of Latin America and is a late morning meal in Spain, often a mid-morning snack or second breakfast. They are different meals.