caffè latte
/kafˈfɛ ˈlat.te/word by word
The English phrase "cafe latte" is translated into Italian as caffè latte.
caffè latte refers to a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. Be aware that in Italian cafes, the word latte on its own refers to a glass of milk rather than a coffee.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "coffee milk".
Which one should you use?
While caffè latte is the coffee drink, ordering only latte in an Italian cafe will result in you being served a glass of plain milk rather than a coffee drink. You may also encounter latte macchiato, which literally translates to "stained milk".
How do you pronounce it?
/kafˈfɛ ˈlat.te/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often omit the accent on the first 'e' in caffè. However, in Italian, the accent is necessary for both correct spelling and pronunciation.
Did you know?
- While caffè latte is common, Italians rarely order it after 11:00 AM. Drinking milk-heavy coffee in the afternoon or evening is often seen as a digestive faux pas.
- The word caffè traces its lineage back to the Arabic word qahwa, which was originally used to describe a type of wine or a beverage that stimulated the senses.
- The Italian word latte is a direct relative of the English word 'lactate' and 'lactose'. Both derive from the Latin word for milk.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno! Vorrei un caffè latte, per favore. Grazie mille!Good morning! I would like a cafe latte, please. Thank you very much!
- Prendiamo un caffè latte in quel bar.Let's have a caffè latte in that bar.
- Ti piace il mio caffè latte?Do you like my caffè latte?
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are at a local Italian cafe.
- GiuliaFrancesco, prendiamo un caffè latte?Francesco, shall we have a caffè latte?
- FrancescoSì, ottima idea, Giulia.Yes, great idea, Giulia.
- GiuliaIo prendo un caffè latte con latte di soia.I'll have a caffè latte with soy milk.
- FrancescoVa bene, ordino per entrambi.Alright, I will order for both of us.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (caffè, latte) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caffè, latte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
