Shop Talk
If you have traveled in Latin America, you will probably have noticed words in stores’ windows or on signs that end in ería (pronounced air - EE-ah).
This suffix or ending is used in Spanish to name most stores and shops.
The following are the names of some stores in Spanish.
la tortillería - a tortilla factory
la zapatería - shoe store
la peluquería - barber shop
la joyería - jewelry shop
la ferretería - hardware store
la mueblería - furniture store
la camisería - shirt store
la sastrería - tailor’s shop
la panadería - bakery
la carnicería - meat market
la hamburguesería - hamburger stand
la pescadería – fish store
la pastelería - pastry shop
la florería or floristería - flower shop
la juguetería - toy store
la librería - bookstore
la galletería - cookie shop
la heladería – ice cream shop
la verdulería – vegetable shop
la frutería – fruit shop or stand
la maderería – lumber yard but in Costa Rica depósito de madera
la vidrieriá – a glass shop
Below are some stores, shops and businesses that don’t fit the pattern.
` la pulpería – a small corner grocery store in Costa Rica often called la pulpe
el restaurante - restaurant
el salón de belleza - beauty parlor
la tienda por departamentos - department store
el cine - movie theater
el taller mecánico - car repair shop
el banco - bank
la tienda de mascotas – pet store
la tintorería – dry cleaning
la pasamanería – sewing supply store
la talbatería – leather supply store
Tiquismos of the week: Embarcar to trick someone into doing something, to put someone on the spot or get them involved in something. Actually the correct verb in Spanish is Embaucar.
Mamulón – an adult that acts like a child
