ко́фе
kófemasculine, neuter
The Russian word for coffee is ко́фе (kófe).
ко́фе is a noun used to refer to the beverage. If you wish to describe something related to coffee, such as a color, you should use the adjective кофейный.
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ко́фе is the standard noun for the beverage, the related adjective кофейный is used specifically to describe qualities like 'coffee color' (кофейный цвет).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Russian, ко́фе is traditionally a masculine noun, although it is frequently used as a neuter noun in modern speech. It is important to note that in standard Russian, the word is indeclinable, meaning its form does not change regardless of its role in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
kófe
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly decline the word ко́фе by changing its ending to match different grammatical cases. In standard Russian, you should keep the word in its original form.
Did you know?
- The Russian word ко́фе is a 'loanword' that entered the language via Dutch and German rather than directly from Arabic or Turkish.
- In Soviet-era cafes, coffee was often served in small glasses with a metal holder called a подстаканник to keep the beverage hot and protect the hand.
- Russian has a specific word кофемания to describe an obsession with coffee, reflecting a cultural history of coffee houses as hubs for intellectual discussion.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, принесите мне чашку кофе.Please bring me a cup of coffee.
- Давай выпьем кофейку после работы.Let's have a cup of coffee after work.
- Я очень люблю горячий ко́фе.Ya ochen' lyublyu goryachiy kofe.I love hot coffee very much.
- Ко́фе в этом кафе очень вкусный.Kofe v etom kafe ochen' vkusnyy.The coffee in this cafe is very tasty.
- Ты хочешь заказать ко́фе?Ty khochesh' zakazat' kofe?Do you want to order coffee?
Example conversation
Sergei and Maria are sitting in a small cafe.
- Сергей SergeyМария, ты хочешь ко́фе?Mariya, ty khochesh' kofe?Maria, do you want coffee?
- Мария MariaДа, я бы хотела черный ко́фе.Da, ya by khotela chernyy kofe.Yes, I would like black coffee.
- Сергей SergeyХорошо, я сейчас закажу ко́фе.Khorosho, ya seychas zakazhu kofe.Good, I will order the coffee now.
- Мария MariaСпасибо, Сергей.Spasibo, Sergey.Thanks, Sergei.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
