espresso
/esˈprɛs.so/masculine
The Italian phrase for a strong type of coffee is espresso. If unsure, use espresso. Wiktionary also lists caffè espresso and caffè liscio.
Meaning: strong type of coffee (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| espresso | /esˈprɛs.so/ | masculine |
| caffè espresso | /kafˈfɛ esˈprɛs.so/ (word by word) | masculine |
| caffè liscio | /kafˈfɛ ˈliʃ.ʃo/ (word by word) | idiomatic, masculine |
While espresso refers to this specific type of coffee, in a bar, people usually just say un caffè to order a single shot of espresso.
Which one should you use?
caffè liscio is an idiomatic way to specify a plain coffee without any added sugar or milk. Note that it is more common to simply order un caffè than to use the term caffè liscio.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms of this word are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /esˈprɛs.so/.
When do people say it?
In Naples, there is a tradition known as caffè sospeso, where someone pays for an extra coffee left suspended for someone less fortunate.
Did you know?
- In Italy, drinking an espresso while standing at the bar is significantly cheaper than sitting at a table for the same drink.
- It is culturally unusual to order an espresso or cappuccino after 11:00 AM in Italy, as milk-heavy coffees are considered breakfast drinks.
- The word 'caffè' has a long journey from the Arabic word 'qahwa', which originally referred to a type of wine.
Examples in context
- A Tom piace l'espresso.Tom likes espresso.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a preference for the word espresso.Tatoeba #7709067 by Guybrush88, translation #7697582 by Hybrid
- Un espresso doppio da bere qui.A double espresso for here.This sentence is useful for ordering a double espresso to be consumed at a location.Tatoeba #2609132 by Guybrush88, translation #1725923 by belgavox
- Prenderò un espresso, per favore.I'll have an Espresso, please.This sentence is useful for ordering an espresso politely.Tatoeba #10915058 by Guybrush88, translation #10911474 by CM
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are at a small Italian cafe.
- FrancescoGiulia, ordiniamo un espresso?Giulia, shall we order an espresso?
- GiuliaSì, ma io prendo un caffè macchiato.Yes, but I'll have a caffè macchiato.
- FrancescoVa bene, io prendo solo un espresso.Alright, I'll just have an espresso.
- GiuliaPerfetto, chiamo il cameriere.Perfect, I'll call the waiter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “espresso” translations and entries espresso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (caffè, espresso, liscio) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caffè, espresso, liscio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
