caffè nero
/kafˈfɛ ˈne.ro/word by word
The English phrase "black coffee" is caffè nero in Italian.
caffè nero refers to coffee served without any milk or cream. Note that in an Italian bar, ordering simply un caffè will almost always result in a black espresso, as milk is not the default.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of caffè (coffee) and nero (black).
Which one should you use?
While caffè nero is coffee without any milk, caffè macchiato refers to espresso with a small amount of milk added.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of caffè nero is /kafˈfɛ ˈne.ro/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word caffè is a linguistic traveler that traces its roots back to the Arabic word qahwa, which originally referred to a type of wine.
- The word nero is used in Italian to describe not just the color of coffee, but also a person's mood when they are feeling deeply melancholy.
- In many parts of Italy, the concept of 'black coffee' is so fundamental that ordering 'caffè con latte' is seen as a breakfast-specific request rather than a standard coffee option.
Examples in context
- Il caffè nero è forte.Black coffee is strong.This sentence is useful for describing the strength of caffè nero.Tatoeba #13077277 by Guybrush88, translation #12078977 by Amastan
- Mi piace il caffè nero.I like black coffee.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for caffè nero.Tatoeba #13077028 by Guybrush88, translation #8865116 by shekitten
- Gli piace il caffè nero.He likes black coffee.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone else likes caffè nero.Tatoeba #13077024 by Guybrush88, translation #9236370 by Nylez
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are at a breakfast cafe.
- MartinaVuoi un cappuccino o un caffè nero?Do you want a cappuccino or a black coffee?
- LorenzoPer me un caffè nero, per favore.A black coffee for me, please.
- MartinaLo prendi senza zucchero?Do you take it without sugar?
- LorenzoSì, preferisco il caffè nero amaro.Yes, I prefer black coffee bitter.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (caffè, nero) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caffè, nero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
