Cafeteria: meaning, definitions and examples

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cafeteria

 

[ ˌkæf.əˈtɪə.ri.ə ]

Noun
Places
Context #1 | Noun

food service

A cafeteria is a dining area where customers serve themselves, usually choosing from a variety of food options arranged in a line or buffet style. It is commonly found in schools, workplaces, and large institutions.

Synonyms

canteen, dining hall, food court

Examples of usage

  • The cafeteria at the office offers a daily selection of hot meals and sandwiches.
  • Students line up in the cafeteria during lunchtime to get their food.

Translations

Translations of the word "cafeteria" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cafeteria

🇮🇳 कैफेटेरिया

🇩🇪 Cafeteria

🇮🇩 kantin

🇺🇦 кафетерій

🇵🇱 kafeteria

🇯🇵 カフェテリア

🇫🇷 cafétéria

🇪🇸 cafetería

🇹🇷 kafeterya

🇰🇷 카페테리아

🇸🇦 كافيتيريا

🇨🇿 kavárna

🇸🇰 kaviareň

🇨🇳 自助餐厅

🇸🇮 kavarna

🇮🇸 mötuneyti

🇰🇿 асхана

🇬🇪 კაფეტერია

🇦🇿 kafeteriya

🇲🇽 cafetería

Word origin

The word 'cafeteria' originated from the Spanish word 'cafetería', which means coffeehouse or café. The concept of self-service cafeterias first appeared in the United States in the late 19th century. The idea was to provide customers with a more efficient and convenient way to access a variety of food options.

See also: cafe.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,336, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.