café para llevar
/kafe paɾa ʝebaɾ/from spelling rules
Takeaway coffee in Spanish is café para llevar.
The phrase refers to coffee bought at a shop to be consumed elsewhere. The modifier para llevar is versatile and can be used with many different food and drink items to indicate they are for takeaway.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase para llevar literally means 'for taking' or 'to take away'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, ordering para llevar can be seen as a contradiction to the cultural value of sobremesa, the tradition of lingering at a table to talk after a meal.
- The word café shares its ancestry with the Arabic word qahwa, which originally referred to a type of wine before being applied to coffee.
- While café para llevar is the standard term, in many traditional Spanish cafes you may find no available 'takeaway' cups, as the coffee is intended to be drunk from a ceramic cup on-site.
Examples in context
- Un café para llevar, por favor.A takeaway coffee, please.
- Quiero un café para llevar, por favor.I want a takeaway coffee, please.
- ¿Tienes vasos para el café para llevar?Do you have cups for the takeaway coffee?
- Compré un café para llevar en la estación.I bought a takeaway coffee at the station.
Example conversation
At a coffee shop near the office.
- JavierHola, ¿me das un café para llevar?Hello, can I have a takeaway coffee?
- SofíaClaro, ¿lo quieres con leche o solo?Sure, do you want it with milk or black?
- JavierCon leche, por favor.With milk, please.
- SofíaAquí tienes tu café, que lo disfrutes.Here is your coffee, enjoy it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries café, llevar, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
