rancho

ranch

noun RRAHN-choh Rare

Origin: From Germanic hring (ring, circle of people), via Old French renc.

Also means

mess hall

Usage Note

Rancho originally referred to a small rural settlement or farm, and that core sense persists across Latin America for a ranch or smallholding. In Mexico and the Caribbean it can also mean the communal meal served to workers or soldiers — the 'mess.' In Venezuelan and Caribbean slang it further denotes a shantytown dwelling, so context matters greatly.

Examples

"El rancho tiene muchos caballos."

Natural Translation

The ranch has many horses.

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