قَهْوَه
qahwa
The English phrase "coffee" is translated into Persian as قَهْوَه (qahwa). If unsure, use قَهْوَه. Wiktionary also lists قَهْوِه (ġahve) and کافِه (kâfe).
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| قَهْوَه | qahwa | |
| قَهْوِه | ġahve | |
| کافِه | kâfe | colloquial |
You can use it to describe specific preparations, such as qahveh-e shekari for sweet coffee or qahveh ba-shir for coffee with milk.
Which one should you use?
The term has three common forms. قَهْوَه is the standard form, while قَهْوِه is an alternative pronunciation. The form کافِه is a loanword-based version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
کافِه is a colloquial form often heard in casual urban speech.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the noun into an adjective meaning "coffee-colored" or "brown", you add the suffix -i to the root to form قهوهای.
How do you pronounce it?
qahwa
Did you know?
- The Persian word for the color brown is قهوهای, which literally means 'coffee-colored'.
- In many Persian-speaking cultures, the aroma of coffee is so significant that a host might offer a small cup to a guest as a gesture of hospitality, even if the guest does not intend to drink the whole amount.
- Persian shares the word قَهْوَه with Arabic, reflecting the historical spread of coffee culture through the Islamic world and trade routes.
Examples in context
- قَهْوَه خیلی داغ است.qahve kheyli dāgh ast.The coffee is very hot.
Example conversation
Maryam and Mohammad are in a kitchen.
- مریم Maryamمحمد، قَهْوَه میخوری؟Mohammad, qahveh mikhori?Mohammad, do you want coffee?
- محمد Mohammadبله، لطفاً یک فنجان بده.Bale, lotfan yek fenjān bede.Yes, please give me one cup.
- مریم Maryamشکر میریزی یا تلخ میخوری؟Shekar mirizi yā talkh mikhori?Do you add sugar or drink it black?
- محمد Mohammadمن قَهْوَه تلخ دوست دارم.Man qahveh talkh doost dāram.I like bitter coffee.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
