Coffee is more than just a popular drink. For millions of people, it is part of the morning routine, a social tradition, a workplace habit, and an important part of food culture. While coffee is enjoyed around the world, the word used to describe it changes from language to language.
If you are searching for coffee in different languages, this guide provides translations with easy English pronunciations, short real-life example sentences, and their English meanings. It is useful for language learners, travellers, students, coffee lovers, and anyone curious about international vocabulary.
Coffee in Different Languages
| Language | Correct Native Phrase | Easy English Pronunciation | Real-Life Example Sentence | English Meaning |
| English | Coffee | KAW-fee | I drink coffee every morning. | I drink coffee every morning. |
| Spanish | Café | kah-FEH | Me gusta el café. | I like coffee. |
| French | Café | ka-FAY | J’aime le café. | I like coffee. |
| German | Kaffee | KAH-fay | Ich trinke Kaffee. | I drink coffee. |
| Italian | Caffè | kaf-FEH | Mi piace il caffè. | I like coffee. |
| Portuguese | Café | kah-FEH | Eu gosto de café. | I like coffee. |
| Dutch | Koffie | KAW-fee | Ik drink graag koffie. | I like drinking coffee. |
| Swedish | Kaffe | KAH-feh | Jag dricker kaffe. | I drink coffee. |
| Norwegian | Kaffe | KAH-feh | Jeg drikker kaffe. | I drink coffee. |
| Danish | Kaffe | KAH-feh | Jeg drikker kaffe. | I drink coffee. |
| Finnish | Kahvi | KAHV-vee | Juon kahvia aamulla. | I drink coffee in the morning. |
| Icelandic | Kaffi | KAH-fi | Ég drekk kaffi. | I drink coffee. |
| Irish | Caife | KEE-fuh | Is maith liom caife. | I like coffee. |
| Scottish Gaelic | Cofaidh | KOH-fee | Is toil leam cofaidh. | I like coffee. |
| Welsh | Coffi | KAW-fee | Rwy’n hoffi coffi. | I like coffee. |
| Polish | Kawa | KAH-vah | Lubię kawę. | I like coffee. |
| Czech | Káva | KAH-vah | Piju kávu. | I drink coffee. |
| Slovak | Káva | KAH-vah | Pijem kávu. | I drink coffee. |
| Slovenian | Kava | KAH-vah | Pijem kavo. | I drink coffee. |
| Croatian | Kava | KAH-vah | Volim kavu. | I like coffee. |
| Serbian | Кафа | KAH-fah | Волим кафу. | I like coffee. |
| Bosnian | Kafa | KAH-fah | Volim kafu. | I like coffee. |
| Macedonian | Кафе | KAH-feh | Сакам кафе. | I like coffee. |
| Bulgarian | Кафе | KAH-feh | Обичам кафе. | I love coffee. |
| Romanian | Cafea | ka-FEH-ah | Îmi place cafeaua. | I like coffee. |
| Hungarian | Kávé | KAH-vay | Szeretem a kávét. | I like coffee. |
| Greek | Καφές | ka-FES | Μου αρέσει ο καφές. | I like coffee. |
| Albanian | Kafe | KAH-feh | Më pëlqen kafeja. | I like coffee. |
| Russian | Кофе | KOH-feh | Я люблю кофе. | I love coffee. |
| Ukrainian | Кава | KAH-vah | Я люблю каву. | I love coffee. |
| Belarusian | Кава | KAH-vah | Я люблю каву. | I love coffee. |
| Lithuanian | Kava | KAH-vah | Aš mėgstu kavą. | I like coffee. |
| Latvian | Kafija | ka-FEE-yah | Es dzeru kafiju. | I drink coffee. |
| Estonian | Kohv | kohv | Ma joon kohvi. | I drink coffee. |
| Maltese | Kafè | ka-FEH | Inħobb il-kafè. | I love coffee. |
| Turkish | Kahve | kah-VEH | Kahveyi seviyorum. | I like coffee. |
| Azerbaijani | Qəhvə | kuhv-VAH | Mən qəhvə sevirəm. | I like coffee. |
| Georgian | ყავა | KAH-vah | მე ყავა მიყვარს. | I love coffee. |
| Armenian | Սուրճ | soorch | Ես սիրում եմ սուրճ։ | I love coffee. |
| Persian | قهوه | ghah-veh | من قهوه دوست دارم. | I like coffee. |
| Arabic | قهوة | QAH-hwah | أحب القهوة. | I love coffee. |
| Hebrew | קפה | KAH-feh | אני אוהב קפה. | I like coffee. |
| Hindi | कॉफ़ी | KAW-fee | मुझे कॉफ़ी पसंद है। | I like coffee. |
| Urdu | کافی | KAA-fee | مجھے کافی پسند ہے۔ | I like coffee. |
| Bengali | কফি | KAW-fee | আমি কফি পছন্দ করি। | I like coffee. |
| Punjabi | ਕੌਫੀ | KAW-fee | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕੌਫੀ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ। | I like coffee. |
| Gujarati | કૉફી | KAW-fee | મને કૉફી ગમે છે. | I like coffee. |
| Marathi | कॉफी | KAW-fee | मला कॉफी आवडते. | I like coffee. |
| Nepali | कफी | KAW-fee | मलाई कफी मन पर्छ। | I like coffee. |
| Sinhala | කෝපි | KOH-pee | මම කෝපි වලට කැමතියි. | I like coffee. |
| Tamil | காபி | KAA-bee | எனக்கு காபி பிடிக்கும். | I like coffee. |
| Telugu | కాఫీ | KAA-fee | నాకు కాఫీ ఇష్టం. | I like coffee. |
| Kannada | ಕಾಫಿ | KAA-fee | ನನಗೆ ಕಾಫಿ ಇಷ್ಟ. | I like coffee. |
| Malayalam | കാപ്പി | KAA-pee | എനിക്ക് കാപ്പി ഇഷ്ടമാണ്. | I like coffee. |
| Odia | କଫି | KAW-fee | ମୋତେ କଫି ପସନ୍ଦ। | I like coffee. |
| Assamese | কফি | KAW-fee | মোৰ কফি ভাল লাগে। | I like coffee. |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 咖啡 | kā fēi | 我喜欢咖啡。 | I like coffee. |
| Japanese | コーヒー | KOH-hii | 私はコーヒーが好きです。 | I like coffee. |
| Korean | 커피 | keo-pi | 저는 커피를 좋아해요. | I like coffee. |
| Vietnamese | Cà phê | ka-FEH | Tôi thích cà phê. | I like coffee. |
| Thai | กาแฟ | gaa-FEH | ฉันชอบกาแฟ | I like coffee. |
| Indonesian | Kopi | KOH-pee | Saya suka kopi. | I like coffee. |
| Malay | Kopi | KOH-pee | Saya suka kopi. | I like coffee. |
| Filipino | Kape | KAH-peh | Gusto ko ng kape. | I like coffee. |
| Mongolian | Кофе | KOH-feh | Би кофе уух дуртай. | I like drinking coffee. |
| Swahili | Kahawa | ka-HAH-wah | Ninapenda kahawa. | I like coffee. |
| Zulu | Ikhofi | ee-KAW-fee | Ngiyalithanda ikhofi. | I like coffee. |
| Afrikaans | Koffie | KAW-fee | Ek hou van koffie. | I love coffee. |
| Amharic | ቡና | BOO-na | ቡና እወዳለሁ። | I like coffee. |
| Haitian Creole | Kafe | ka-FEH | Mwen renmen kafe. | I love coffee. |
| Esperanto | Kafo | KAH-foh | Mi ŝatas kafon. | I like coffee. |
How to Say Coffee in Different Languages
If you want to know how to say coffee in different languages, one interesting thing you will notice is how similar many translations are.
Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian use forms related to café or caffè. German, Dutch and Scandinavian languages also have words that share noticeable similarities.
However, some languages have distinct terms. For example, Arabic uses قهوة, Armenian uses սուրճ, and Amharic uses ቡና.
Learning these differences can make vocabulary practice more interesting and can also help you recognise the word when travelling.
Coffee Around the World
Coffee is enjoyed in nearly every part of the world, but coffee culture varies greatly between countries.
In some places, coffee is mainly associated with breakfast or a morning routine. In others, it is an important social drink enjoyed during conversations with friends, family, or colleagues.
The language used for coffee reflects this global popularity. Many modern coffee-related words have travelled between cultures along with the drink itself.
Coffee in European Languages
European languages offer some of the clearest similarities in coffee vocabulary.
Spanish and Portuguese use café, while Italian uses caffè. French also uses café. German uses Kaffee, while Dutch uses koffie.
Several Northern European languages use forms of kaffe, making them relatively easy to recognise for language learners.
Eastern European languages have their own interesting variations. Polish uses kawa, while Russian uses кофе and Ukrainian uses кава.
Coffee in Asian Languages
Asian languages show a fascinating mixture of borrowed and traditional vocabulary.
Mandarin Chinese uses 咖啡, Japanese uses コーヒー, and Korean uses 커피. Indonesian and Malay use kopi, while Filipino uses kape.
South Asian languages frequently use words that sound similar to the English “coffee”, although the spelling and pronunciation can differ according to the writing system.
One notable exception is Amharic, where the everyday word ቡና is used for coffee.
Coffee in Different Languages Translations
When searching for coffee in different languages translations, it is useful to understand that pronunciation may vary even when two languages use words with a similar origin.
For example, the spelling can look familiar but the vowels, stress, or final sounds may be different.
This is why an easy pronunciation guide is included in the table. It gives English speakers a simple starting point for saying each word.
Popular Coffee Drinks Around the World
Coffee itself comes in many forms, and different cultures have developed their own favourite preparations.
Popular examples include:
- Espresso
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Americano
- Turkish coffee
- Filter coffee
- Cold brew
- Iced coffee
- Mocha
- Flat white
The names of these drinks can also vary or be adapted when they enter another language.
Why Learn Coffee in Different Languages?
Learning everyday food and drink vocabulary is a practical way to improve language skills.
“Coffee” is particularly useful because it is a common word in cafés, restaurants, hotels, workplaces, and homes around the world.
Knowing the local word can also make ordering a drink easier when travelling. Even a simple attempt to use the local language can make an interaction more enjoyable.
Tips for Learning Coffee Vocabulary
Start by learning the word in a few languages that interest you most. Then practise it in a complete sentence.
For example, learning “I like coffee” gives you more useful conversational practice than memorising the word alone.
Pay attention to accents and pronunciation marks as well. Languages such as French, Italian, Portuguese, and Hungarian may use accents that affect pronunciation or spelling.
For languages that use non-Latin scripts, learn both the original spelling and its pronunciation. This makes it easier to recognise the word on menus and signs.
Conclusion
Learning coffee in different languages is a simple way to expand your vocabulary while discovering how one of the world’s favourite drinks is represented across cultures.
From café in Spanish and French to Kaffee in German, кофе in Russian, قهوة in Arabic, 咖啡 in Mandarin, and ቡና in Amharic, these translations show the fascinating variety of languages around the world.
Whether you are learning a new language, planning a trip, or simply interested in international vocabulary, this list gives you a practical starting point.
FAQs
1. What is coffee in different languages?
Coffee has many different names around the world. Examples include café in Spanish, café in French, Kaffee in German, caffè in Italian, kopi in Indonesian, 咖啡 in Mandarin, and コーヒー in Japanese.
2. How do you say coffee in Spanish?
Coffee in Spanish is café, pronounced approximately like “kah-FEH”. It is used for both the drink and coffee in general.
3. How do you say coffee in French?
Coffee in French is café, pronounced approximately “ka-FAY”. The word is commonly used when ordering or talking about coffee.
4. How do you say coffee in Japanese?
Coffee in Japanese is コーヒー, a commonly used loanword. It is pronounced with a long vowel sound and is widely understood in cafés and everyday conversation.
5. What is coffee called in Arabic?
Coffee in Arabic is قهوة. The pronunciation varies somewhat by regional dialect, but the word is widely recognised throughout Arabic-speaking regions.