tè
/ˈtɛ/masculine
The English word tea is translated into Italian as tè.
tè is a masculine noun used to refer to the drink made from the leaves of the tea plant.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The accent mark on the è is mandatory to indicate the correct open vowel sound and stress.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtɛ/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often omit the grave accent on the e, but in Italian, writing te without the accent changes the word to the pronoun 'you' (informal).
Did you know?
- In Italy, tea is rarely served with milk, unlike in the UK. Ordering tè con latte is uncommon and may be seen as a very foreign request.
- Because tè is often consumed as a digestive or for health, you will find it sold in Italian pharmacies as tisane, which refers to herbal infusions.
- The Italian tè shares a common ancestor with the Hokkien word tê, meaning the word carries the linguistic DNA of 17th-century maritime trade routes.
Examples in context
- Io amo il tè.I love tea.This sentence is useful for expressing a love for tè.Tatoeba #2792286 by Guybrush88, translation #2293565 by CK
- È tè o caffè?Is that tea or coffee?This sentence is useful for asking if a drink is tè or coffee.Tatoeba #13077069 by Guybrush88, translation #12964629 by sundown
- È ora del tè.It's time for tea.This sentence is useful for stating that it is time for tè.Tatoeba #13418206 by Guybrush88, translation #8391151 by Amastan
- 1379 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are in a cozy kitchen in the afternoon.
- LorenzoChiara, vuoi un tè?Chiara, do you want a tea?
- ChiaraSì, grazie Lorenzo. Un tè nero va bene.Yes, thanks Lorenzo. A black tea is fine.
- LorenzoTi porto anche dei biscotti?Should I bring you some cookies too?
- ChiaraSì, per favore!Yes, please!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations and entries tè, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tè, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
