tienda
“tienda” means “shop” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
shop, store
Also: boutique
📝 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.
tent
Also: marquee, stall
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tienda
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'tienda' to mean 'tent'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'tenta', which is a form of the verb 'tendere', meaning 'to stretch'. The original idea was a piece of cloth stretched out to create a shelter or a market stall, which evolved to mean both 'tent' and 'shop'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.