café à emporter
The English phrase "take away coffee" is translated into French as café à emporter.
This phrase refers to a coffee beverage purchased at a shop to be consumed elsewhere. If you intend to drink your coffee inside the establishment instead, you should use the phrase sur place (on site) to indicate you are staying.
What does it mean word for word?
The part à emporter literally means "to take away" or "to carry away".
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a single coffee, use the masculine indefinite article un before the phrase, resulting in un café à emporter.
Did you know?
- In France, ordering a café without further specification usually results in a small espresso, not a filtered coffee with milk.
- The word emporter in your phrase shares a common ancestor with the English word 'import', as both stem from the Latin 'portare' meaning 'to carry'.
- While café à emporter is the literal translation, the cultural norm in France was historically to drink coffee slowly in a ceramic cup at a counter or table.
Examples in context
- Un café à emporter, s'il vous plaît.A coffee to take away, please.
- Je voudrais un café à emporter, s'il vous plaît.I would like a take away coffee, please.
- C'est un café à emporter ou pour consommer sur place ?Is it a take away coffee or for here?
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are at a cafe counter.
- EmmaBonjour, je vais prendre un café à emporter.Hello, I'll have a take away coffee.
- NathanD'accord. Et pour vous, Nathan ?Okay. And for you, Nathan?
- NathanMoi aussi, je veux un café à emporter.Me too, I want a take away coffee.
- EmmaParfait, on peut y aller maintenant.Perfect, we can go now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries café, emporter, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
