la loteria
La loteria is the lottery as a place or service where you buy lottery tickets. In many areas, it is a counter inside a shop or a small dedicated office.
Common Phrases
- comprar un boleto en la loteria — to buy a ticket at the lottery
- ganar la loteria — to win the lottery
Example
Compro un boleto en la loteria.
I buy a ticket at the lottery.
Common Mistake
Accent errors are common: write la loteria as la loteria in basic notes, but in standard Spanish it is la loteria; avoid la loteria if your teacher expects accents.
el cine
El cine means the cinema (movie theater) and also the concept of film. In daily neighborhood Spanish, it usually means the place you go to watch a movie.
Common Phrases
- ir al cine — to go to the cinema
- entradas para el cine — tickets for the cinema
Example
Vamos al cine hoy.
We are going to the cinema today.
Common Mistake
Do not drop the article: say ir al cine, not ir a cine.
la pasteleria
La pasteleria is a pastry shop that sells cakes, pastries, and sweets. It can also refer to the pastry department or the craft of pastry-making, depending on context.
Common Phrases
- comprar una tarta en la pasteleria — to buy a cake at the pastry shop
- una caja de pasteles — a box of pastries
Example
La pasteleria prepara una tarta.
The pastry shop prepares a cake.
Common Mistake
Learners confuse shop types: la pasteleria is for pastries, not la panaderia (bakery) when you mean cakes and sweets.
el mercado
El mercado is a market, often for fresh food like vegetables, fruit, and meat. It can be an open-air market or a covered market building.
Common Phrases
- ir al mercado — to go to the market
- verduras frescas — fresh vegetables
Example
Voy al mercado por verduras frescas.
I go to the market for fresh vegetables.
Common Mistake
Do not translate too literally: for the neighborhood place, use el mercado, not el market.
la joyeria
La joyeria is a jewelry store, a place to buy jewelry or get it repaired. It can also refer to jewelry as a category, but in daily errands it is usually the shop.
Common Phrases
- arreglar un anillo en la joyeria — to fix a ring at the jewelry store
- comprar un collar — to buy a necklace
Example
La joyeria arregla mi anillo.
The jewelry store fixes my ring.
Common Mistake
Avoid gender mistakes: it is la joyeria, not el joyeria.
el bazar
El bazar is a bazaar or variety store where you can find many small household items. In many neighborhoods, it is the place for cheap everyday things like candles, plates, and tools.
Common Phrases
- comprar velas en el bazar — to buy candles at the bazaar
- cosas de casa — household items
Example
En el bazar venden velas.
At the bazaar they sell candles.
Common Mistake
Do not confuse the preposition: say en el bazar, not a el bazar when you mean you are inside or shopping there.
el teatro
El teatro is the theater as a venue for plays and live performances. It can also mean theater as an art form, but in neighborhood plans it usually means the building.
Common Phrases
- comprar entradas para el teatro — to buy tickets for the theater
- llegar puntuales — to arrive on time
Example
Compramos entradas para el teatro.
We buy tickets for the theater.
Common Mistake
Do not use the wrong word for a movie venue: use el teatro for live shows and el cine for movies; avoid vamos al teatro when you mean the cinema.
el taller
El taller is a workshop, and in everyday neighborhood Spanish it often means a repair shop, especially a car repair garage. Context usually makes it clear which type of workshop it is.
Common Phrases
- llevar el coche al taller — to take the car to the repair shop
- despues del taller — after the workshop / after the repair shop
Example
Mi coche esta listo despues del taller.
My car is ready after the repair shop.
Common Mistake
Avoid false friends: el taller is not the tailor in English; it is a workshop or repair shop.