descafeinado
/deskafeiˈnado/masculine
The Spanish word for decaf is descafeinado.
descafeinado is a noun used to refer to a decaffeinated drink. For example, if you want to order decaf coffee with milk, you can say café descafeinado con leche.
Meaning: a decaffeinated drink (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use the term café descafeinado to refer specifically to decaf coffee.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word descafeinado is masculine. If you are using it as an adjective to modify a feminine noun, such as bebida (drink), it changes to the feminine form descafeinada.
How do you pronounce it?
/deskafeiˈnado/
Did you know?
- If you are in a very fast-paced cafe in Madrid, you might hear a waiter shorten the request to just un descafe in extremely informal slang, though this is rare.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you can simply order un descafeinado without mentioning 'coffee' at all, and the server will understand you are ordering a coffee.
- When ordering in Spain, if you ask for un café descafeinado, the server may ask if you want it cortado or solo, as the decaf status is separate from the style of the drink.
Examples in context
- El café descafeinado no sabe a nada.Decaf coffee doesn't taste like anything.This sentence shows how to use descafeinado when talking about the taste of decaf coffee.Tatoeba #1021912 by Shishir, translation #10017140 by DJ_Saidez
- Para mí, por favor, un café descafeinado.For me, please, a decaf coffee.
- Me gustaría un café descafeinado, por favor.I would like a decaf coffee, please.
- ¿Cómo preparan el café descafeinado?How do you prepare the decaf coffee?
- Quiero un descafeinado, por favor.I want a decaf, please.
- ¿Me traes un descafeinado frío?Can you bring me an iced decaf?
Example conversation
At a cafe in the afternoon.
- MaríaDaniel, ¿quieres un café normal?Daniel, do you want a regular coffee?
- DanielNo, prefiero un descafeinado.No, I prefer a decaf.
- MaríaEstá bien, yo pido un descafeinado para ti.Okay, I'll order a decaf for you.
- DanielGracias, María.Thank you, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “decaf” translations and entries descafeinado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
