Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kaffe | /kɑfːə/ | masculine |
| kaffi | /ˈkafi/ |
The word is a masculine noun used to refer to the beverage. Common variations include Svart kaffe (black coffee), Kaffe med melk (coffee with milk), Kaffe med sukker (coffee with sugar) and Iskaffe (iced coffee). You can also order en kaffe to mean a single cup of coffee, or use the phrase en kopp kaffe for a cup of coffee.
Which one should you use?
The difference between the forms is primarily based on written standards: kaffe is the standard form used in Bokmål, while kaffi is the standard form used in Nynorsk.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form kaffi is used in Nynorsk and many Norwegian dialects. In the city of Tromsø, you may encounter the local term karsk, which refers to a drink mixing coffee with moonshine.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, you can form the definite singular the coffee by adding the suffix -en to the word kaffe, resulting in kaffen.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɑfːə/
Did you know?
- The word 'kaffe' shares its distant ancestry with the Arabic word qahwa, which originally referred to a type of wine or a stimulating brew.
- In many Norwegian households, the smell of 'kaffe' is a social signal that guests are welcome to sit and talk.
- The term 'kaffekompis' can be used to describe a 'coffee buddy', someone you specifically meet to share a cup and a chat.
Examples in context
- Eg drikk mest kaffi.I mostly drink coffee.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form kaffi.Tatoeba #12480668 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #12480169 by reubsboyd
- Jeg liker ikke kaffe.I don't like coffee.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form kaffe.Tatoeba #2879705 by eirik174, translation #33536 by CK
- La oss ta kaffepause.Let's take a break for coffee.Tatoeba #2907618 by eirik174, translation #19776 by CK
- Jeg vil gjerne ha en kaffe, takk.I would like a coffee, please.
- Kan jeg få en kopp kaffe?Can I have a cup of coffee, please?
- Skal vi ta en kaffe sammen?Shall we grab a coffee together?
- Jeg foretrekker espresso over filterkaffe.I prefer espresso over filter coffee.
- Kan du anbefale en god kaffebutikk i nærheten?Can you recommend a good coffee shop nearby?
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jakob and Ingrid are in the kitchen in the morning.
- JakobVil du ha en kopp kaffe?Do you want a cup of coffee?
- IngridJa takk, det hadde vært fint.Yes please, that would be nice.
- JakobHvor mye kaffe vil du ha?How much coffee do you want?
- IngridBare litt kaffe for meg, takk.Just a little coffee for me, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries kaffe, kaffi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaffe, kaffi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
