tomo café
/tomo kafe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I drink coffee" is translated into Spanish as tomo café.
This phrase is a statement used to express the habit or the action of consuming coffee.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb tomo comes from tomar, which literally means "I take". In many Spanish-speaking regions, tomar is the standard way to express the act of drinking or consuming beverages.
Which one should you use?
While bebo café is also a correct way to say "I drink coffee", tomo café is more common in many dialects when referring to the habit of consuming a beverage.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can change depending on your intent: adding the indefinite article un to create tomo un café shifts the meaning from a general habit to the act of consuming one specific cup of coffee. Additionally, if the phrase follows another verb, you should use the infinitive form tomar café, such as in Quiero tomar café (I want to drink coffee).
How do you pronounce it?
/tomo kafe/
Did you know?
- The word café in Spanish can also refer to the color brown, a way to describe many things from eyes to clothing.
- The word café actually has roots in the Arabic word qahwa, which originally referred to a type of wine before it became synonymous with the coffee bean.
- In some Latin American countries, using tomar instead of beber is preferred because beber can sometimes be associated specifically with drinking alcohol.
Examples in context
- Tomo café después de cenar.I drink coffee after dinner.This sentence is useful for describing when you drink coffee after dinner using tomo café.Tatoeba #436570 by lukaszpp, translation #436569 by lukaszpp
- Tomo café todas las mañanas.I drink coffee every morning.This sentence is useful for describing a morning habit using tomo café.Tatoeba #13829972 by carlosalberto, translation #6352530 by CK
- Todas las mañanas tomo café con leche.Every morning I drink coffee with milk.This sentence is useful for describing drinking coffee with milk in the morning using tomo café.Tatoeba #12210001 by carlosalberto, translation #12210016 by carlosalberto
- Yo tomo mucho caféI drink a lot of coffee
- Yo tomo poco caféI drink little coffee
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are chatting in a break room.
- AlejandroHola María, ¿quieres un té?Hi María, do you want some tea?
- MaríaNo gracias, yo tomo café.No thanks, I drink coffee.
- AlejandroYo también. ¿Lo prefieres negro?Me too. Do you prefer it black?
- MaríaSí, siempre tomo café sin azúcar.Yes, I always drink coffee without sugar.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries café, tomo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
