tienda
/tyen-da/
shop
This image illustrates 'tienda' as a shop or store, the most common meaning in Spanish.
tienda(Noun)
shop
?General term, common in British English.
,store
?General term, common in American English.
boutique
?For a small, fashionable shop, especially for clothes.
📝 In Action
Voy a la tienda a comprar leche.
A1I'm going to the store to buy milk.
Mi hermana trabaja en una tienda de ropa.
A2My sister works in a clothing shop.
Muchas tiendas del centro cierran los domingos.
B1Many shops downtown close on Sundays.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine: 'La Tienda'
Remember that 'tienda' is a feminine word. This means you'll almost always see it with 'la' (the) or 'una' (a) before it. For example, 'La tienda está cerrada' (The store is closed).
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Place vs. The Activity
Mistake: "Me gusta tienda."
Correction: To say you like the activity of shopping, use the phrase 'Me gusta ir de tiendas.' 'Tienda' is just the place, not the action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Getting Specific
'Tienda' is a great all-purpose word, but Spanish has specific names for many shops. For books, use 'librería'; for bread, 'panadería'; for shoes, 'zapatería'. Using these will make you sound more like a native speaker!
This image illustrates the secondary meaning of 'tienda' as a tent, often used in the full phrase 'tienda de campaña' (camping tent).
tienda(Noun)
tent
?For camping or providing shelter.
marquee
?A very large tent used for parties or events.
,stall
?A small, covered booth at a market or fair.
📝 In Action
Necesitamos una tienda más grande para acampar.
A2We need a bigger tent for camping.
El viento casi se lleva la tienda durante la tormenta.
B1The wind almost blew the tent away during the storm.
Montaron una tienda en el mercado para vender artesanías.
B2They set up a stall in the market to sell crafts.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Context is Key
Mistake: "'Voy a la tienda.' (When you mean you're going camping)"
Correction: Without context, everyone will think you mean 'store'. To be clear, say 'Voy a montar la tienda' (I'm going to set up the tent) or mention camping. The phrase 'tienda de campaña' is the clearest way to say 'tent'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use 'Tienda de Campaña' for Clarity
While 'tienda' can mean 'tent' on its own, the full phrase 'tienda de campaña' leaves no room for doubt. It literally means 'countryside tent' or 'field tent' and is the standard term for a camping tent.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tienda
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'tienda' to mean 'tent'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'tienda' and 'mercado'?
A 'tienda' is usually a single, enclosed shop or store. A 'mercado' is a market, which is often a larger, more open space with many different stalls or vendors ('puestos') selling things, especially fresh food.
How do I say 'window shopping'?
A common way to say this is 'mirar escaparates' or 'ver vitrinas', which literally means 'to look at shop windows'. You can also use the phrase 'ir de tiendas' even if you don't plan to buy anything.
Is 'tienda' related to the verb 'tender' (to stretch)?
Yes, exactly! They both come from the same Latin root. A 'tienda' was originally a piece of stretched canvas, like a tent or a stall at a market. So the idea of 'stretching' is the connection between the two words.