What word is used for "snack" in Mexico?

Question

I am writing some rules for a school program and need to use the most common word for snack. I only know "merienda." Can you help? The majority of parents reading the program rules are Mexican.

Answer 1

I would say La merienda sounds better! I'd stick to that one.

Answer 2

I think bocadillo.

Answer 3

Milagro 1983 said:

I would say La merienda sounds better! I'd stick to that one.

I agree with Milagro. Having lived in South Texas for the better part of my life, I would have to say that this is what I normally remember having heard in reference to a snack when said by people from Mexico or of Mexican descent.

The Diccionario Breve de Mexicanismos also seems to confirm this usage:

merienda. (Del español merienda 'comida ligera que se hace por la tarde antes de la cena', del latín merenda 'comida ligera', de merenda 'la que será merecida', fem. de merendus, gerundivo [participio de futuro pasivo] de merere 'merecer'.) f. Cena ligera.

On the other hand, the Diccionario Breve de Mexicanismos also recognizes the word botano as suggested by Ronncc (notice that this entry also makes note of other similar words as suggested by the DRAE):

botana. f. Comida ligera que se sirve como acompañamiento de bebidas [DRAE: aperitivo, piscolabis, tapa].

Answer 4

antojito

Answer 5

la botana?