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

Thirsty folks from all socioeconomic strata instantly recognize the colorful 23.5-ounce cans in their local bodega, and most flavors can still be found for 99 cents (plus applicable taxes and deposit fees). —Pete Cottell, Wired News, 12 June 2025

Can or should New York City effectively run low-income neighborhood grocery stores, which would compete with small bodegas? —Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

For his lead turn as bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega, Ramos was nominated for a Golden Globe. —EW.com, 24 June 2025

And there’s a lot of gross images here too (e.g., man running down the street and through a bodega with a bleeding face). —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin apotheca storehouse — more at apothecary

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1