canteen
gb/kæntˈin/ us/kæntˈin/
B1
English
menza, étkezde, kulacs, büfé, kantin, evőeszközkészlet
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
in/at the canteen; the [school/work] canteen
I usually grab a sandwich in the canteen at lunchtime.
Ebédidőben általában bekapok egy szendvicset a menzán.
The school canteen sells hot meals and snacks.
Az iskolai menzán meleg ételeket és harapnivalókat is lehet kapni.
We met in the canteen after the morning meeting.
Learner examples
I eat lunch in the canteen.
A menzán ebédelek.
The canteen is closed today.
A menza ma zárva van.
Common mistake:
In American English, cafeteria is more common than canteen for this meaning.
Meaning
cafeteria in a school or workplace
Collocations
school canteen
|work canteen
|factory canteen
|canteen food
|canteen lunch
|canteen queue
|canteen staff
|canteen table
|canteen menu
|canteen break
Synonyms
cafeteria (More common in American English.)
|
dining hall (Often used for universities and large institutions.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|education
|work
|daily_life
Definition
a place where you buy and eat food at school or work
A place in a school, factory, office, or similar institution where food and drinks are sold and eaten.
NOUN
B1
2
kulacs
A2
Usage pattern:
a canteen of [water]; fill/refill [a] canteen
Bring a canteen of water if you’re hiking in the heat.
Vigyél magaddal egy kulacs vizet, ha nagy melegben túrázol.
He refilled his canteen at the stream.
Újratöltötte a kulacsát a pataknál.
The soldiers carried canteens on their belts.
Learner examples
I filled my canteen with water.
Megtöltöttem vízzel a kulacsomat.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with a cafeteria; context usually makes it clear.
Meaning
portable bottle for carrying water
Collocations
water canteen
|army canteen
|military canteen
|canteen bottle
|canteen cup
|fill a canteen
|refill your canteen
|strap a canteen
|canteen on a belt
|empty canteen
Synonyms
flask (Often implies a more rigid bottle; can also mean a hip flask for alcohol.)
|
water bottle (More general and common in everyday speech.)
Themes
outdoors
|sports
|travel
|military
|daily_life
Definition
a bottle you carry with water, often for hiking or the army
A small container with a cap, used for carrying water or another drink, especially by soldiers, hikers, or campers.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
the canteen on [a site/base]; buy [something] at the canteen
There’s a small canteen near the entrance that sells coffee and pastries.
Van egy kis büfé a bejárat közelében, ahol kávét és péksüteményeket árulnak.
He picked up toothpaste and snacks from the base canteen.
Fogkrémet és rágcsálnivalót vett a katonai bázis kantinjában.
The site canteen opens at 6 a.m. for the early shift.
Learner examples
I bought coffee at the canteen.
Vettem egy kávét a büfében.
Common mistake:
This is about a small shop/counter; a larger eating area is often called a cafeteria or dining hall.
Meaning
small refreshment shop on a site
Collocations
base canteen
|camp canteen
|site canteen
|hospital canteen
|canteen counter
|canteen prices
|canteen supplies
|buy snacks at the canteen
|canteen run
|canteen opening hours
Synonyms
snack bar (Emphasizes quick snacks rather than full meals.)
|
concession stand (More common at events like sports games.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|work
|shopping
|military
Definition
a small place that sells snacks and drinks in a building or on a base
A small shop or counter that sells drinks, snacks, and basic items, especially on a work site, in a hospital, or on a military base.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
a canteen of [cutlery/silver]; pack the canteen
They gave her a canteen of cutlery as a wedding present.
Nászajándékba egy evőeszközkészletet adtak neki.
We packed a picnic canteen with plates, cups, and knives.
Elcsomagoltunk egy piknikkészletet tányérokkal, poharakkal és késekkel.
The canteen came in a wooden case with a handle.
Learner examples
This canteen has knives and forks.
Ebben az evőeszközkészletben kések és villák vannak.
Common mistake:
This meaning is less common; many learners only know canteen as a place or a water bottle.
Meaning
boxed set of cutlery or dishes
Collocations
canteen of cutlery
|silver canteen
|picnic canteen
|camping canteen
|canteen case
|a twelve-piece canteen
|a canteen set
|pack the canteen
|portable canteen
|stainless-steel canteen
Synonyms
cutlery set (More direct and common phrasing.)
|
silverware case (Often used when the set is made of silver or used formally.)
Themes
home
|food_and_drink
|travel
|outdoors
Definition
a box with knives, forks, and spoons inside
A set of cutlery and sometimes plates or cups, stored in a case, often for traveling, camping, or formal use.
Grammar
Dictionary form
canteen
IPA
GB/kæntˈin/
US/kæntˈin/
Syllables & stress
canteen (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: canteen
- Plural: canteens
Word family
Forms
canteens
noun
Related words
cafeteria
noun A2
café
noun
Expressions
canteen culture
1/kæntˈin kˈʌlt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
socializing over drinks at work
a work culture where people bond in an informal (sometimes drinking) setting
Examples
- Some staff said the canteen culture made it hard for non-drinkers to fit in.
- The report criticized a canteen culture where decisions were made informally after hours.
Learner examples
- They talked about the company’s canteen culture.
canteen truck
1/kæntˈin tɹˈʌk/
fixed phrase
food truck for workers
a truck that sells food and drinks at work sites
Examples
- The canteen truck pulls up at ten, so we take our break then.
- He grabbed a coffee and a snack from the canteen truck.
Learner examples
- The canteen truck sells sandwiches.