bodega

noun

bo·​de·​ga bō-ˈdā-gə 

1

: a storehouse for maturing wine

2

a

: wineshop

b(1)

: bar entry 1 sense 5a

(2)

: barroom

3

: a usually small grocery store in an urban area

specifically : one specializing in Hispanic groceries

Did you know?

Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques

Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.

Examples of bodega in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For a bodega, a corner store or a neighborhood gas station, those shoppers are often the core of the customer base. — Elie Y. Katz, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

On Thursday eight chefs set up shop – literally – at five local bodegas, delis or corner stores, serving up signature dishes for free to anyone who might walk in. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

Jabal the bodega cat Eighth Street Mini Market Bodega workers and neighbors were happy to hear Jabal is back home. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

The individual told the couple that the kitten lived at the bodega, but the pair allegedly didn’t respond and instead put the kitten into a bag and walked away. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin apotheca storehouse — more at apothecary

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1