← Back to searchWord Index →

Is the word cantina the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No

While the fundamental definition of "cantina" remains the same in both dialects (a place to eat/canteen), there is a difference in typical usage and the scale of the establishment it describes. In Brazil, "cantina" is the standard, everyday term for a small, informal snack bar found in schools, clubs, or office buildings. In Portugal, the word "cantina" is more commonly associated with larger, more formal, or institutional dining halls (such as those in a university or the military). For a small, informal snack bar or shop, a person from Portugal would more naturally use the words "cafetaria" or "snack-bar."

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu vou comprar um salgado na cantina da escola. (I am going to buy a savory snack at the school canteen.)
  2. A cantina do clube fecha às oito da noite. (The club's snack bar closes at eight in the evening.)
  3. Tem muita fila na cantina hoje. (There is a long line at the canteen today.)
  4. Vamos nos encontrar na cantina depois da aula. (Let's meet at the canteen after class.)
  5. A comida da cantina é bem barata. (The food at the canteen is very cheap.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu vou comprar um pastel na cafetaria da escola. (I am going to buy a pastry at the school cafeteria.)
  2. O snack-bar do clube fecha às oito da noite. (The club's snack bar closes at eight in the evening.)
  3. Há muita fila na cafetaria hoje. (There is a long line at the cafeteria today.)
  4. Encontramo-nos na cafetaria depois da aula. (Let's meet at the cafeteria after class.)
  5. A comida do refeitório é razoável. (The food in the dining hall is reasonable.)