kávé
[ˈkaːveː]
The Hungarian word for coffee is kávé.
kávé is a noun used to refer to both the brewed beverage and the coffee bean itself. You can specify the type of drink by adding other words: use fehér to specify coffee with milk, espresso for an espresso shot or frappé for cold coffee.
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Which one should you use?
The related adjective kávébarna is used to describe a pale brown colour.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun, kávé changes based on its role in a sentence. It takes the accusative suffix -t to become kávét when it is the direct object of a verb, such as when you are drinking it. To say you are doing something with coffee, use the instrumental suffix -val to form kávéval.
Did you know?
- Hungarians sometimes use the phrase kávézni as a verb, which means not just to drink kávé but to socialize or hang out with friends.
- The Hungarian word kávé is a linguistic relic of the Ottoman occupation of Hungary, arriving via Turkish rather than the German or French routes common in much of Europe.
- A kávéház is not just a cafe but historically a cultural institution in Budapest where writers and intellectuals spent their entire days.
Examples in context
- Ez a kávé hideg.This coffee is cold.This sentence is useful for describing the temperature of the kávé.Tatoeba #7048911 by H_Liliom, translation #1317744 by CM
- A kávé túl erős.The coffee is too strong.This sentence is useful for describing the strength of the kávé.Tatoeba #7668721 by mraz, translation #7668040 by Hybrid
- Papa, itt a kávé.Dad, here's the coffee.This sentence is useful for offering or presenting the kávé.Tatoeba #4394203 by mraz, translation #871387 by CM
- Szeretnél egy kávét?Would you like some coffee?
- Megiszunk egy kávét?Do you want to grab some coffee?
- két kávétwo coffees
- 577 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zsófia and Gábor are in a kitchen.
- ZsófiaSzeretnél egy csésze kávét, Gábor?Would you like a cup of coffee, Gábor?
- GáborIgen, köszönöm szépen, Zsófia.Yes, thank you very much, Zsófia.
- ZsófiaTejjel vagy cukorral szereted a kávét?Do you like your coffee with milk or sugar?
- GáborCsak feketén kérem.I'll take it black, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries kávé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kávé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
