커피
keopi[kʰʌ̹pʰi]
The English word coffee is 커피 (keopi) in Korean.
커피 refers to the beverage coffee. If you want to add sugar to your drink, the word for sugar is 설탕.
Meaning: beverage (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When coffee is the direct object of a verb, such as 'to drink', it often takes the object marker 를, appearing as 커피를.
How do you pronounce it?
keopi
Did you know?
- The term 아이스 아메리카노 (Iced Americano) is so popular that it is often shortened to 아아 (AA) in casual conversation.
- The phrase 커피 한 잔 하실래요? (Would you like to have a cup of coffee?) is often used as a general invitation to socialize, regardless of whether the person actually drinks 커피.
- While 커피 is the standard word, many Koreans use the word 가배 (gabae) when referring to traditional or historical coffee, which is a direct phonetic transcription of the Chinese pronunciation of the word.
Examples in context
- 톰은 커피를 마시고 있어.Tom is getting coffee.This sentence shows the use of 커피 as a direct object.Tatoeba #5526632 by raining211, translation #2273151 by CK
- 너는 커피 세 잔을 마셨다.You've drunk three cups of coffee.This sentence shows how to count units of 커피.Tatoeba #11106143 by intertime, translation #16723 by CK
- 커피 한 잔 더 부탁드릴게요.Please give me another cup of coffee.This sentence demonstrates a polite way to request 커피.Tatoeba #13058657 by Uwe, translation #2450033 by sharptoothed
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dohyeon and Subin are at a cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈 씨, 커피 마실래요?Subin-ssi, keopi masillaeyo?Subin, do you want to drink some coffee?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 커피 정말 좋아요.Ne, keopi jeongmal joayo.Yes, I really like coffee.
- 도현 Do-hyeon따뜻한 커피로 주문할게요.Ttatteut-han keopi-ro jumunhalgeyo.I will order hot coffee.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 고마워요.Dohyeon-ssi, gomawoyo.Dohyeon, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries 커피, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
