Cena - Page 2

merienda = snack

I have always thought that merienda was a between-meal snack.

I understand that snack is some food that you can eat during the day. But merienda is a meal eaten around 18 h. Maybe we're the only ones who "merendamos" :)

Well, I don't think that a snack is a meal although it has been established that snack = merienda. When children come home after school they usually eat a snack, for example an apple, a glass of milk with cookies, a pbj sandwich and then the meal is served a couple of hours later.

I understand snack to be more of a "botana" than a merienda. I could be wrong.

RAE entries .......tentempié & piscolabis

But then a botana is what is eaten before a meal is served formally. Maybe refrigerio..

I don't know. I am now totally confused.

:thinking:

I would never understand "merienda" as a snack. One can eat a snack at any time of the day, but "merienda" is only eaten in the evening. It's lighter than dinner or lunch, but it's a formal meal... served at a table. :)

¿Cómo se diría snack en español? :confused:

Snack can be "bocadillo", "refrigerio", "tentempié"... and when it is applied to diets, they call it "colación" (something eaten between breakfast and lunch or between lunch and dinner/supper).

The situation in the UK is equally confusing.

Breakfast = desayuno/ No problem

Late breakfast or early lunch = brunch (US mainly)

Tea/ coffee and biscuits at 11 o´clock = elevenses

Midday meal = lunch (usually a light meal) or dinner (main meal)

Afternoon tea / high tea = sandwiches & tea /coffee

Evening meal = dinner or tea

A little later = dinner or supper

At bedtime = supper

Society is changing rapidly and eating arrangements depend on work patterns and location. Dinner is the main meal of the day but people tend to graze at all times of the day on fast foods.
Our children can have "School dinners" at lunchtime or dinnertime. 12.00/1.00pm
They come home for their tea at teatime 5.00/6.00pm´ .... all very confusing!!

And they wonder why people get all confused over a simple word.......

SNACK

It is quite confusing. We (countries) have a different way of saying things. We all understand a different thing by the same word spoken.

So what is the consensus?

Snack = ?????

Let's take a poll.

What do you think is the proper translation for the word SNACK?

Me? ...... Refigerio

What about you?

David.


Even so the word means Merienda in my country, I don't know if the same word means the same in other place.

Snack- merienda or meal- comida, merienda.


Really they're the same in any place.

I believe that if you use both words are acceptable.

Crotalito,

Have you been following the conversation....... they are not the same thing.

:duh:

What is a PBJ Sandwich?

A snack is usually a handful of food eaten when you are peckish.

What a fun thread! Who knew that talking about snacks could make me so hungry. :)

Irma - does "media mañana" simply mean "middle of the morning" (or "mid-morning") ... or does it refer to a specific time in the morning?

Bob - I think you left out the most important kind of snack ... the MIDNIGHT snack. :p

Great words to have on hand, Malila - thanks!

Are you asking to define "PBJ"? It's "peanut butter and jelly". Or are you asking if it could be a snack? It could totally be a snack ... but could also be someone's lunch....

Media mañana depends on the one who is speaking, but it's between 10 and 12 h (12 h. is "mediodía"). For instance, I take my second breakfast around 10 or 10.30 h in the morning (the first is around 7 h.). Usually we say: voy a tomar un café (we're working at that time). I work from 8 to 15'30 h., so I can't stay so long without eating something. I take my breakfast at home and later at work, a media mañana (between 10 and 12, more or less), I take a coffe or another breakfast (it's the same) :)