Café vs Cafeteria

Question

I searched up the definition for café (like a coffee shop) and it came up as cafeteria. However, I seen my Spanish teacher say that it is still café. Is there a difference between cafés and cafeterias? If so, what is it? If not, then can I use them interchangeably as in being able to say cafeteria and people would know I'm talking about shops similar to a coffee shop/small restaurants that sell light meals and drinks?

Sorry for the wordy question, I hope you understand what I mean.

Answer 1

"Café" is the French, Spanish, and Portuguese word for coffee, and the French word for coffeehouse as well. "Café" as a coffeehouse has obviously been adopted to the English language, and probably the Spanish language as well. But "cafetería" is the more traditional Spanish term for coffeehouse. Here's a good link.

enter link description here

Oh, okay, thank you. That makes more sense. - PandaLover_11, Jun 13, 2016

Answer 2

I believe that "cafetería" in Spanish is the same as its English counterpart. It is a place where there are large tables of all different kinds of foods from which you can choose.

I believe they also call the Swedish versions of these "Smorgasbord." I know that in many places in Latin America that café and cafetería are the same. It's because the American cafetería concept is unknown to them.

Thank you! However, can I still use "café" and still have it mean coffee shop? - PandaLover_11, Jun 13, 2016

That's right. - Daniela2041, Jun 13, 2016