café décaféiné
The English phrase "decaf coffee" is café décaféiné in French.
This phrase refers to coffee from which most of the caffeine has been removed.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression Café décaféiné is a formal way to say decaffeinated coffee. In casual settings like a café, people often shorten the phrase to just un déca.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, Canada, the informal terms café déca and un décaf are used. In Belgium, café décaféiné is an acceptable expression.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because café is a masculine noun, the adjective décaféiné must also be in its masculine singular form.
Did you know?
- The root of café can be traced back to the Arabic word qahwa, which originally referred to a type of wine before it was applied to the coffee beverage.
- In France, if you order un café without specifying décaféiné, you will almost always receive a small shot of strong espresso rather than a filtered coffee.
- The word café is a doublet of caoua, meaning French borrowed the same original Arabic word through two different routes: one via Italian and another directly from the East.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais un grand café décaféiné avec deux crèmes et deux sucres.I'd like a large decaf coffee with two creams and two sugars.This sentence is useful for ordering a large decaf coffee with cream and sugar using café décaféiné.Tatoeba #12512458 by menaud, translation #12512463 by menaud
- Pourriez-vous me servir un café sans caféine, s'il vous plaît?Could you serve me a coffee without caffeine, please?
- Salut, je vais prendre un déca.Hi, I'll have a decaf coffee.
- Un café décaféiné, s'il vous plaît.A decaf coffee, please.
- Est-ce que vous avez du café décaféiné ?Do you have decaf coffee?
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are at a café.
- ChloéTu veux un café, Nathan ?Do you want a coffee, Nathan?
- NathanOui, mais je voudrais un café décaféiné.Yes, but I would like a decaf coffee.
- ChloéD'accord, je vais en commander un pour toi.Okay, I will order one for you.
- NathanMerci beaucoup, Chloé !Thank you very much, Chloé!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries café, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
