VocabDictionary

bodega

/boʊˈdeɪ.ɡə/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

A small neighborhood grocery store, especially one common in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods in US cities like New York.

Example Sentences:
  • I ran down to the corner bodega to pick up some milk and a fresh roll.
  • The local bodega has been run by the same family for over thirty years.
2.noun

A wine cellar or a shop specializing in wine, particularly in Spanish-speaking regions.

Example Sentences:
  • We visited a traditional bodega in Andalusia to taste the local sherry.
  • The family's private bodega houses dozens of rare vintage wines.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “bodega”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Spanish word 'bodega' (meaning a cellar, wine vault, or warehouse), which traces its ultimate origin to the Late Latin 'apotheca' (storehouse, shop), coming from the Ancient Greek 'apothēkē'. In US English (particularly in New York City), the meaning shifted to describe a small neighborhood grocery store, popularized by Puerto Rican immigrants in the mid-20th century.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Picture walking into a little corner shop in New York City where you might buy a **bod**y-warming snack or a **dega** (degazed/carbonated) soda.

Rhyming Words

Frequently Asked Questions About “bodega

1. What is the meaning of “bodega” in English?

In English, bodega (noun) is defined as: “A small neighborhood grocery store, especially one common in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods in US cities like New York.”.

2. How do you use “bodega” in a sentence?

I ran down to the corner bodega to pick up some milk and a fresh roll.

3. What are English synonyms of “bodega”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “bodega”?

Derived from the Spanish word 'bodega' (meaning a cellar, wine vault, or warehouse), which traces its ultimate origin to the Late Latin 'apotheca' (storehouse, shop), coming from the Ancient Greek 'apothēkē'. In US English (particularly in New York City), the meaning shifted to describe a small neighborhood grocery store, popularized by Puerto Rican immigrants in the mid-20th century.