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awcharro

Nov 18, 2002, 6:12 PM

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The name for different meal times in Mexico

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When I began to study Spanish, I was taught that the word for breakfast was "el desayuno", for the afternoon meal "el almuerzo" and for the evening meal "la cena".

However, in Mexico, there are some changes to this. If the morning meal is light (café y pan, for example), it is called "el desayuno", if it is heavy, it is called "el almuerzo". The afternoon meal is called "la comida", and the evening meal "la cena". (However, in many restautrants in Mexico, you can get "el almuerzo" as long as they are open.)

REY

Nov 19, 2002, 6:22 AM

Post #2 of 9 (3641 views)

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Re: [awcharro] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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ayunar=fast (no food)

des-ayunar = un-fast

so, desayunar means to "break the fast" - "breakfast". A lot of people around here (I live in Texas) call breakfast "almuerzo", and I try to explain it to them, but they just say "well, I've been saying it like that all my life." aagh!

You stick with what you were taught...it's correct.

HTH

Rey

esperanza

Nov 19, 2002, 7:53 AM

Post #3 of 9 (3639 views)

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Re: [REY] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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Lo que opino yo: if you have just a pan dulce with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, or a glass of milk, in the early morning before you go to work...desayuno. Later in the morning, on your work break, you eat...almuerzo. At 2PM you go home for a big meal...comida. Then back to work at 3 or 4PM, and work till 7 or 8PM. Then home for leftovers or pan dulce with a hot drink sometime during the evening...cena. There are times when your cena is a big deal~if you go to a cenabaile, por ejemplo. Que dicen ustedes?

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

REY

Nov 19, 2002, 9:21 AM

Post #4 of 9 (3600 views)

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Re: [esperanza] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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The very first thing you eat in the day, regardless of the time, is "desayuno". There's just no way you can skip breakfast and go directly to lunch....think abou it ;)

Comida means "food" or "meal" so, you can have comida any time of the day, too. :Þ

Rey

Angelina

Nov 19, 2002, 9:37 AM

Post #5 of 9 (3604 views)

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Re: [REY] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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Y la merienda ¿cuándo se come?

Yo desayuno por la mañana, como la comida a mediodía, y ceno por la tarde. In English I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Supper is not in my idiolect.) My parents were from the north of Mexico and they did not use the terms merienda and almuerzo (although they understood them---like I understand the use of "sneakers or pocketbook" for purse and tenis shoes----I just don't use them). I think these terms might be regional variations, just like they are in English.

Brad.

Nov 19, 2002, 9:44 AM

Post #6 of 9 (3593 views)

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Re: [Angelina] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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In Reply To

Y la merienda ¿cuándo se come?

"Las siete ya van a dar
el niño va a merendar
las siete van a sonar
y es cuento de no acabar
porque el pequeño es un llorón
que siempre sale con esta canción:

Hay mamá
me duele mi diente
porque traen la leche caliente
yo así no la quiero tomar
que se la lleven a enfriar."

Francisco Gabilondo Soler "Cri Cri" was the greatest!!

Angelina

Nov 19, 2002, 9:53 AM

Post #7 of 9 (3587 views)

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Re: [Brad Smith] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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Muchas gracias Sr. Smith. ¡Qué manera tan graciosa de decirnoslo!

mexicanas

Nov 20, 2002, 9:00 AM

Post #8 of 9 (3560 views)

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Re: [Angelina] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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Hi, I think (Actually, I know because I´m mexican) that the difference between Desayuno and Almuerzo was well defined.

The difference between Cena and Merienda is the hour. The merienda (as the song says) is around 7 and cena is around 9.

Merienda is used with kids, because they have an "early cena" and go to sleep before 8. Or at least that was how it used to be 10 years ago. If the cena or merienda is heavy or not depends in the family and their own habits.

About the explanation des-ayunar. You´re right, the root and translation is correct, but nobody used it that way.

Why anyone can have a desayuno at any hour? It´s because a restaurant in Mexico, will give the costumer anything they want. We have two rules

1. The costumer is always right

2.- If the costumer is not right, read rule number 1.

Sound funny but it´s true,

bye

JudyinKC

Nov 25, 2002, 11:47 AM

Post #9 of 9 (3527 views)

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Re: [esperanza] The name for different meal times in Mexico

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What you describe is almost exactly what we have experienced with our stay with our Mexican friends. The only difference is that their last meal of the day is usually at 9:00 or 10:00. These are workingest people I've ever known!!