déca
/de.ka/masculine
In French, decaf is déca.
The term is used to refer to a decaffeinated drink.
Meaning: a decaffeinated drink (noun)
Which one should you use?
While déca is used as a noun to refer to the drink itself, décaféiné is the adjective used to describe the coffee, such as in un café décaféiné.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The shortened form déca is the common informal way to refer to a decaffeinated coffee in a cafe setting. It is an abbreviated form commonly used among friends or in casual conversation. For example, un café déca is an expression suitable for informal conversations with acquaintances.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a noun to mean 'a decaf coffee', déca is masculine and typically takes the indefinite article un.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /de.ka/.
Did you know?
- In many French cafes, if you order un déca, the server will automatically assume you mean an espresso unless you specify allongé or au lait.
- French coffee culture places such a high value on the 'kick' of caffeine that décaféiné is occasionally viewed as a compromise or a 'fake' coffee by purists.
- In a fast-paced Parisian cafe, using the full word décaféiné might actually sound slightly too formal or even pedantic compared to the snappy déca.
Examples in context
- J'ai demandé un déca.I asked for a decaf.Tatoeba #3514482 by sacredceltic, translation #3495023 by Hybrid
- Je voudrais un grand café décaféiné avec deux crèmes et deux sucres.I'd like a large decaf double-double.Tatoeba #12512458 by menaud, translation #12512455 by menaud
- Je voudrais un grand décaféiné avec deux crèmes et deux sachets de sucre.I'd like a large decaf coffee with two creams and two sugars.Tatoeba #12512456 by menaud, translation #12512463 by menaud
- Je voudrais un café décaféiné, s'il vous plaîtI would like a decaf coffee, please.
- Je préfère un café sans caféineI prefer a coffee without caffeine.
- Je prendrai un déca, s'il vous plaîtI'll have a decaf, please.
- Je préfère un café décaI prefer a decaf coffee.
- Un café déca allongé, s'il vous plaîtA decaf espresso with more water, please.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are ordering drinks at a café.
- LéaTu veux quoi, Nathan ?What do you want, Nathan?
- NathanJe vais prendre un déca.I will have a decaf.
- LéaMoi, je prends un expresso.As for me, I'll have an espresso.
- NathanD'accord, on commande alors.Okay, let's order then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “decaf” translations and entries déca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
