کافی
kāfī/kɑː.fiː/feminine
The English word "coffee" is translated into Urdu as کافی (kāfī). Wiktionary also lists کوفی (kofī) and قَہْوَہ (qahva).
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| کافی | kāfī | /kɑː.fiː/ (Standard, Urdu) | feminine |
| کوفی | kofī | /kɔː.fiː/ (Standard, Urdu) /koː.fiː/ (Standard, Urdu) |
feminine |
| قَہْوَہ | qahva | masculine |
Which one should you use?
The word قَہْوَہ (qahva) refers more specifically to traditional, often spiced, Middle Eastern or South Asian style coffee.
How does it change in a sentence?
The loanword کافی is grammatically feminine. In contrast, the word قَہْوَہ is grammatically masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of کافی is /kɑː.fiː/. It has two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that کافی (kāfī) is also a common Urdu word meaning 'enough' or 'sufficient', though the context usually makes the meaning clear.
Did you know?
- The word قَہْوَہ (qahwa) shares a common ancestor with the Arabic word for 'wine' in some historical linguistic theories, though it is used exclusively for coffee today.
- In South Asian culture, قَہْوَہ is often used as a medicinal brew to treat colds or congestion rather than just a morning beverage.
- The term قَہْوَہ is used broadly in some regions to describe any hot, spiced infusion, even if it contains no actual coffee beans.
Examples in context
- مجھے کافی پسند ہے۔I like coffee.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for کافی.Tatoeba #4223650 by nabeel_tahir, translation #3524072 by robbieheslop
- ہمیں تھوڑا کوفی چاہئے۔We need some coffee.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for کوفی.Tatoeba #12902501 by Roomba_Unit, translation #2647359 by CK
- ٹام ہمیشہ تیز کافی پیتا ہے۔Tom always drinks his coffee strong.This sentence is useful for describing how someone drinks کافی.Tatoeba #2348070 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1027180 by CK
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are sitting in a cafe.
- عمر Omarسارہ، کیا میں آپ کے لیے کافی لاؤں؟Sara, kya mein aap ke liye coffee laoon?Sara, shall I bring coffee for you?
- سارہ Saraجی عمر، شکریہ۔Ji Umar, shukriya.Yes Umar, thank you.
- عمر Omarآپ کو ٹھنڈی کافی پسند ہے؟Aap ko thandi coffee pasand hai?Do you like iced coffee?
- سارہ Saraنہیں، مجھے گرم کافی ہی چاہیے۔Nahi, mujhe garam coffee hi chahiye.No, I want hot coffee only.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries کافی, کوفی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries کافی, کوفی, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
