tentempié

snack

noun ten-tem-PYEH Rare

Origin: From the phrase tente en pie ('keep yourself on your feet'), a name for a small bite of food.

Usage Note

Tentempié is a charming compound from tente en pie, literally 'keep-yourself-on-your-feet,' capturing the idea of a small bite to sustain energy. It is most common in Spain; Latin American speakers more often say merienda or botana for the same concept. The written accent on the final é is obligatory — without it the stress pattern would change entirely.

Examples

"Tomé un tentempié antes del partido."

Natural Translation

I had a snack before the match.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tense Made Easy

Preterite vs. imperfect: use the preterite for finished events, the imperfect for ongoing scenery. A trigger-word cheat sheet, flowchart, and examples.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read