cafeteria
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 5I 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.
The hospital cafeteria provides healthy meals for both staff and visitors.
The medical facility's dining hall offers nutritious food to employees and guests.
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.
Antonyms
Word Family
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
I usually have lunch in the school cafeteria with my friends.
everydayI normally eat my midday meal in the school's self-service dining area with my friends.
The hospital cafeteria provides healthy meals for both staff and visitors.
formalThe medical facility's dining hall offers nutritious food to employees and guests.
Grab a tray and meet me in the cafeteria in five minutes.
informalPick up a food tray and see me in the dining area very soon.
The university cafeteria offers several vegetarian options to students.
academicThe college dining hall provides many meat-free food choices for people studying there.
Our corporate cafeteria is located on the ground floor of the building.
businessThe company's eating area is on the first level of the office block.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
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.
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.
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
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
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