almacen

Almacén is a Spanish noun that primarily denotes a space or building used to store goods. It can also refer to a retail shop, particularly a general store or department store. The word is derived from the Arabic al-makhzan (storehouse), passing through medieval Spanish as almacén.

In logistics and commerce, an almacén functions as a place to receive, store, organize, and prepare goods for distribution or sale. Common types include general warehouses, distribution centers, bonded warehouses (where goods may be stored with customs restrictions), and cold-storage facilities for perishable items. In retail contexts, almacén may describe a large shop or a back-room storeroom attached to a storefront.

Typical features of an almacén include loading docks, pallet racking, shelving, and areas for packing and dispatch. Modern operations rely on inventory management systems, barcoding, RFID tagging, and sometimes automated storage and retrieval systems to track stock levels and movements.

Regional usage varies. In Spain and many parts of Latin America, almacén primarily means a warehouse, depot, or storeroom, while in some Caribbean or rural contexts it can mean a small neighborhood shop. In those cases, synonyms such as depósito, bodega, or tienda are used depending on the country.

See also: warehouse.