The Spanish language has been influenced by Latin and Arabic throughout its development. But today, the language that has been contributing to the Spanish vocabulary is English. Think of words like junior, píxel, jacuzzi, copyright and flirtear. All these words have been accepted by the Royal Spanish Academy.
But the following set of Spanish words adopted from the English lunch haven’t make it yet to the maximum authority of the Spanish language. Here are four Spanglish words for lunch:
Spanglish Words: 4 Spanish Words from the English Word LUNCH
1. lonche: Its the direct adaptation from the word lunch (the u sounds like o in Spanish). Lonche in Mexico generally for the food you take to have at school or work. The accepted word in Spanish is almuerzo.
Example: Se le olvidó llevar el lonche a la escuela otra vez.
Translation: He forgot to take his lunch to school again.
2. lonchera: Means lunchbox and is used in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia and El Salvador. Despite this word not being featured in the Royal Spanish Academy Dictionary
Example: Cuando era pequeña, mi lonchera era de Mickey Mouse.
Translation: When I was a kid, I had a Mickey Mouse lunchbox.
3. lonchería: Its a place to have lunch or a snack bar. Another word in Spanish is fonda or cafetería. This word is used in México but in a recent trip to Cartagena, Colombia we ran by one lonchería too! This word is included as an Americanism in the Larousse
Example: La mejor lonchería está a la vuelta de la esquina.
Translation: The best lunch place is around the corner.
4. lonchar: It is the verb created from the word lunch and means to eat lunch. The accepted word in Spanish is almorzar.
Example: Te espero abajo para lonchar.
Translation: I’ll wait for you down stairs to lunch.
Are any of these words used in other countries? What other words in Spanish from lunch do you know?
Check out these other English Spanish articles.
Lunch box photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bartgoldonflickr/5412349812/
