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sobremesa

after-dinner conversation

noun soh-breh-MEH-sah Rare
Food & Drink Cooking

Origin: From sobre (over/on) + mesa (table); literally 'over the table'.

Also means

tablecloth; time after a meal

Usage Note

Sobremesa names the cherished Spanish and Latin American custom of lingering at the table after eating, talking and relaxing — there is no single-word English equivalent. It can also refer to the tablecloth or a table runner. When someone says estamos de sobremesa it means the meal is over but the conversation continues.

Examples

"La familia pasó horas de sobremesa contando historias."

Natural Translation

The family spent hours in after-dinner conversation telling stories.

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