コーヒー
kōhī[ko̞ːçiː]
The English phrase coffee is said in Japanese as コーヒー (kōhī). Wiktionary also lists カフェ (kafe).
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| コーヒー | kōhī | [ko̞ːçiː] (narrow) |
| カフェ | kafe | [ka̠ɸe̞] (narrow) |
The word refers to the beverage. It can also be used as an adjective to describe things that are a pale brown colour using the forms コーヒー色の or 珈琲色の.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
kōhī
Did you know?
- In Japan, there is a distinct culture called kissaten, which are traditional coffee shops. These differ from modern カフェ by offering a quieter atmosphere and a more formal service style.
- The Japanese word コーヒー was borrowed from the Dutch word 'koffie' and the English word 'coffee'. It eventually traces back to the Arabic word qahwa.
- The Japanese spelling 珈琲 is a way to write 'coffee' using kanji (Chinese characters) to give it a more traditional or sophisticated appearance, though it is pronounced exactly like the katakana version コーヒー.
Examples in context
- コーヒー作るわ。I will make some coffee.This sentence is useful for saying you will make some コーヒー.Tatoeba #224858 by bunbuku, translation #62194 by CC
- コーヒーはどう?Won't you have some coffee?This sentence is useful for offering someone some コーヒー.Tatoeba #1274165 by bunbuku, translation #62282 by CK
- コーヒー、飲む?Do you drink coffee?This sentence is useful for asking if someone drinks コーヒー.Tatoeba #10630513 by small_snow, translation #449095 by CK
- 607 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe, Hiroto and Misaki are deciding what to order.
- 大翔 Hirotoコーヒー、何にする?kōhī, nani ni suru?What coffee will you have?
- 美咲 Misaki私はアイスコーヒーにする。watashi wa aisukōhī ni suru.I will have an iced coffee.
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、僕もコーヒーにしよう。jaa, boku mo kōhī ni shiyō.Then, I'll have coffee too.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔はブラックが好きだね。Hiroto wa burakku ga suki da ne.Hiroto, you like black coffee, don't you?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries コーヒー, カフェ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries カフェ, コーヒー, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.