Washeterias

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A self-service laundry facility where individuals can wash and dry their clothing using coin-operated machines
2. An establishment equipped with washing machines and dryers for public use, commonly frequented for laundry tasks
3. A laundry space that provides automatic washing and drying machines for personal garment cleaning, typically accessible to the general public

Etymology: Built on the pattern of "cafeteria," this term swaps the coffee in that word for washing. "Cafeteria" comes from Spanish "cafetería," meaning a coffee shop, formed from "café" plus the suffix "-ería," which marks a place where something is sold or done. The same suffix gives Spanish "panadería" (bakery) and "librería" (bookshop). English took "cafeteria" for a self-service eatery, and the laundry sense applies that same self-service model to clothes. The plural simply adds "s" to the singular "washeteria."

Synonyms: laundromats, laundries