einen Kaffee, bitte
The English phrase "coffee, please" is translated into German as einen Kaffee, bitte.
This phrase is used as a polite request to order a cup of coffee.
Which one should you use?
You may hear the phrase ein Kaffee, bitte in casual spoken German. However, einen Kaffee, bitte is the grammatically correct form for a direct object.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual settings such as a bakery or cafe, it is very common to use the shorter, informal version Kaffee, bitte by dropping the article. For a more complete and polite way to order, you can say Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee, bitte.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The word einen is the masculine accusative form of ein. It is used here because the coffee is the direct object of the implied verb ich hätte gerne (I would like to have). In spoken German, the contraction 'nen is sometimes used to stand for einen, meaning "a" in this context.
Did you know?
- The word bitte is actually a shortened version of the phrase ich bitte, which means 'I beg'.
- German coffee culture includes the 'Kaffee und Kuchen' tradition, where coffee is served with cake in the afternoon as a social ritual.
- While 'Kaffee' is the standard term, you may see 'Mokka' on older German menus, a term derived from the coffee-growing port of Mocha in Yemen.
Examples in context
- Ich hätte gerne eine Tasse Kaffee, bitte.I would like a cup of coffee, please.
- Könnte ich bitte einen Kaffee bekommen?Could I please have a coffee?
- Darf ich Sie um einen Kaffee bitten?May I ask you for a coffee?
- Kannst du mir bitte einen Kaffee bringen?Can you please bring me a coffee?
- Gib mir bitte 'nen Kaffee.Give me a coffee, please.
- Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee, bitte.I would like a coffee, please.
- Einen Kaffee, bitte, mit Milch.A coffee, please, with milk.
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are at a small cafe.
- JulianHallo, ich nehme einen Kaffee, bitte.Hello, I'll have a coffee, please.
- JuliaGerne. Und für Sie, Julia?Certainly. And for you, Julia?
- JuliaIch möchte auch einen Kaffee, bitte.I would also like a coffee, please.
- JulianDas macht dann zwei Kaffee.That makes two coffees then.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kaffee, bitte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
