A1 noun Neutral #960 most common

cafeteria

/ˌkæf.əˈtɪə.ri.ə/

A cafeteria is a type of restaurant where you choose your food from a counter and carry it to your table on a tray. It is most commonly found in schools, universities, hospitals, and large office buildings.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I usually have lunch in the school cafeteria with my friends.

I normally eat my midday meal in the school's self-service dining area with my friends.

2

The hospital cafeteria provides healthy meals for both staff and visitors.

The medical facility's dining hall offers nutritious food to employees and guests.

3

Grab a tray and meet me in the cafeteria in five minutes.

Pick up a food tray and see me in the dining area very soon.

Word Family

Noun
cafeteria
Adjective
cafeteria-style
Related
cafe
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Memory Tip

Imagine a CAFÉ with a TERRIfic Amount of food on a tray. CAFE-TERI-A.

Quick Quiz

Students at this college buy their lunch in the ________.

Correct!

The correct answer is: cafeteria

Examples

1

I usually have lunch in the school cafeteria with my friends.

everyday

I normally eat my midday meal in the school's self-service dining area with my friends.

2

The hospital cafeteria provides healthy meals for both staff and visitors.

formal

The medical facility's dining hall offers nutritious food to employees and guests.

3

Grab a tray and meet me in the cafeteria in five minutes.

informal

Pick up a food tray and see me in the dining area very soon.

4

The university cafeteria offers several vegetarian options to students.

academic

The college dining hall provides many meat-free food choices for people studying there.

5

Our corporate cafeteria is located on the ground floor of the building.

business

The company's eating area is on the first level of the office block.

Word Family

Noun
cafeteria
Adjective
cafeteria-style
Related
cafe

Common Collocations

school cafeteria the place where students eat lunch at school
cafeteria food meals served in a self-service dining hall
cafeteria tray the flat board used to carry food in a cafeteria
work cafeteria the eating area provided by an employer
cafeteria line the queue people stand in to get their food

Common Phrases

cafeteria-style

a way of serving food where customers serve themselves

cafeteria plan

a benefits package where employees choose from various options

school cafeteria food

often used to describe simple, mass-produced meals

Often Confused With

cafeteria vs cafe

A cafe is usually a small shop for coffee and snacks with waiter service, while a cafeteria is a large self-service hall for full meals.

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Usage Notes

Use 'cafeteria' specifically when referring to a place where you use a tray and pick your own food from a counter. In British English, 'canteen' is more common for work or school settings.

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Common Mistakes

Many learners misspell the word as 'cafetaria' (with an extra 'a'). Also, do not use it to describe a fancy restaurant where you sit and wait for a server.

💡

Memory Tip

Imagine a CAFÉ with a TERRIfic Amount of food on a tray. CAFE-TERI-A.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the American Spanish word 'cafetería', which originally meant a coffee store.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (plural: cafeterias) Often used as a compound noun (e.g., cafeteria worker)
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Cultural Context

In the United States, the school cafeteria is a significant social location where students are often depicted in media sitting at specific tables with their social groups.

Quick Quiz

Students at this college buy their lunch in the ________.

Correct!

The correct answer is: cafeteria

More Education words

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A university is a high-level educational institution where students study for degrees and conduct academic research. It is a place people go after finishing secondary school to specialize in a specific subject.

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Chemistry is the branch of science that studies what things are made of and how they react with each other. It is also a common subject taught in schools and universities.

economics

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