Caffè freddo
/kafˈfɛ ˈfred.do/word by word
The English phrase 'iced coffee' is translated into Italian as Caffè freddo.
Caffè freddo refers to a coffee drink that is served cold. In many Italian bars, if you order a Caffè freddo, you might receive a coffee that has been chilled or served with ice, but it is less standardized than the American 'iced coffee' and may vary by establishment.
Which one should you use?
While Caffè freddo literally means cold coffee, it is often used to refer to a coffee drink served over ice or chilled, whereas caffè con ghiaccio would specifically emphasize the presence of ice cubes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Naples, you might hear the term Caffè Freddo Napoletano for iced coffee.
How do you pronounce it?
/kafˈfɛ ˈfred.do/. The word has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- While caffè freddo is the general term, the most iconic Italian cold coffee is shakerato, which is shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker to create a thick foam.
- The word caffè traveled to Italy from Ottoman Turkish kahve, which originally came from the Arabic word qahwa.
- In Italy, if you want a coffee with ice, you might see granita di caffè on the menu, which is a semi-frozen dessert of coffee crystals rather than a liquid drink.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, vorrei un caffè freddo, per favore.Good morning, I would like an iced coffee, please.
- Posso avere un caffè shakerato, per favore?Can I have a shaken iced coffee, please?
- Vorrei un caffè freddo, per favore.I would like an iced coffee, please.
- Prendo un caffè freddo con molto ghiaccio.I'll have an iced coffee with lots of ice.
- Ti piace il caffè freddo in estate?Do you like iced coffee in the summer?
Example conversation
At a sunlit cafe on a hot afternoon.
- MatteoFa molto caldo oggi, vero?It is very hot today, right?
- GiuliaSì, prendo un caffè freddo.Yes, I'll have an iced coffee.
- MatteoOttima idea, ne prendo uno anche io.Great idea, I'll take one too.
- GiuliaPerfetto, andiamo al bancone.Perfect, let's go to the counter.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (caffè, freddo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caffè, freddo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
