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cafeteria

[kaf-uh-TEER-ee-uh]
nounfemininepl: cafeterias
cafeteria
1. A restaurant or dining facility where customers serve themselves or order food at a counter and eat in a casual dining area
The school cafeteria serves lunch to all students during the midday break.
A cafeteria da escola serve almoço para todos os alunos durante o intervalo do meio-dia.
2. A self-service restaurant or dining hall, typically in a workplace, school, or public institution
We grabbed coffee at the office cafeteria before the meeting.
Pegamos café na cafeteria do escritório antes da reunião.
NYC Slang
caf or lunch room (colloquial)
Synonyms
self-service restaurantdining halllunch roomcantina
Antonyms
fine dining restaurantfull-service restaurant

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
cafeteria
Standard usage; also used interchangeably with 'cantina' in some contexts
Rio de Janeiro
cafeteria
Common in modern establishments; 'lanchonete' more traditional for smaller venues
São Paulo
cafeteria
Widely used in business and educational settings
Portugal
cafetaria
Portuguese spelling variation; 'cantina' also used for school/institutional dining

Related Idioms & Phrases

grab a bite at the cafeteria
cafeteria food (often used to describe mediocre or institutional food)
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