If you have traveled in Latin America, you will probably have noticed words in stores’ windows or on signs that end in ería (pronounced air – EE-ah).

This suffix or ending is used in Spanish to name most stores and shops.

The following are the names of some stores in Spanish.
la tortillería – a tortilla factory
la zapatería – shoe store
la peluquería – barber shop
la joyería – jewelry shop
la ferretería – hardware store
la mueblería – furniture store
la camisería – shirt store
la sastrería – tailor’s shop
la panadería – bakery
la carnicería – meat market
la hamburguesería – hamburger stand
la pescadería – fish store
la pastelería – pastry shop
la florería or floristería – flower shop
la juguetería – toy store
la librería – bookstore
la galletería – cookie shop
la heladería – ice cream shop
la verdulería – vegetable shop
la frutería – fruit shop or stand
la maderería – lumber yard but in Costa Rica depósito de madera
la vidrieriá – a glass shop

Below are some stores, shops and businesses that don’t fit the pattern.
`      la pulpería – a small corner grocery store  in Costa Rica often called la pulpe
el restaurante – restaurant
el salón de belleza – beauty parlor
la tienda por departamentos – department store
el cine – movie theater
el taller mecánico – car repair shop
el banco – bank
la tienda de mascotas – pet store
la tintorería – dry cleaning
la pasamanería – sewing supply store
la talbatería – leather supply store

Tiquismos of the week:  Embarcar to trick someone into doing something, to put someone on the spot or get them involved in something. Actually the correct verb in Spanish is Embaucar.
Mamulón – an adult that acts like a child