How to Say Dinner in Spanish | MostUsedWords.com
Updated for 2026, the Spanish word for "dinner" is "cena". Pronounced with stress on the second syllable (/ˈθena/), cena is a feminine noun used throughout most Spanish-speaking countries to refer to the evening meal.
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How to Say Dinner in Spanish
The primary term for dinner in Spanish is "cena", which refers to the main meal of the day typically eaten between 7 pm and 10 pm. In some regions, however, other terms like "comida" or "almuerzo" might be used depending on local customs.
How to Order Dinner in Spanish Restaurants
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The Spanish Frequency Dictionary series covers the 10,000 most common Spanish words — ranked by how often native speakers actually use them, with IPA pronunciation, English translations, and bilingual example sentences at every level.
Browse all 4 volumes →To order dinner at a restaurant, you can use phrases such as:
- ¿Me puede traer la cena?
(Can I have my dinner?)
- Quiero pedir la cena.
(I would like to order the dinner.)
Cultural Significance of Dinner in Different Spanish-Speaking Countries
The timing and nature of dinner vary across different Spanish-speaking countries:
- In Spain, dinner is often a lighter meal eaten later in the evening between 8 pm and 10 pm.
- Mexican dinners are usually larger meals served earlier around 6 pm to 8 pm.
- Argentineans typically enjoy their dinner late at night after 9 pm, with a focus on meat dishes and salads.
- In Peru, "cena" is often enjoyed between 8 pm and 10 pm and may include soup, rice, potatoes, and a meat dish.
Sample Sentences Using 'Cena'
To help you incorporate cena into your vocabulary:
- ¿Quieres ir a cenar conmigo?
(Do you want to go to dinner with me?)
- Me encanta cocinar la cena para mi familia.
(I love cooking dinner for my family.)
- ¿A qué hora es la cena?
(What time is dinner?)
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The fastest way to grow your Spanish vocabulary is to start with the words you'll actually encounter every day. The Spanish Frequency Dictionary covers the 2,500 most common Spanish words, each with IPA pronunciation, an English translation, and bilingual example sentences.
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