HeyRuaHow to say “coffee” in Irish
- Irish:
- caife
- English:
- coffee, café
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “KAF-eh” /ˈkafʲə/
- Plural:
- caifí (coffees)
- Genitive singular:
- caife, an chaife (e.g. boladh an chaife, the smell of the coffee)
- Genitive plural:
- caifí, na gcaifí (e.g. praghas na gcaifí, the price of the coffees)
What does “caife” mean?
“Caife” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- coffee
- A hot drink made from roasted, ground coffee beans, or the beans themselves.Also: cup of coffee, coffee bean.
1 other meaning: café
- 2café
- A small restaurant where coffee, tea and light meals are served; also spelled caifé.Also: coffee shop, cafe.
“Caife” with the article
The plural of coffee in Irish is caifí. Here is caife after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Caife” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using caife, the Irish word for coffee.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “caife”
Coffee in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for coffee?
The Irish for coffee is caife (pronounced “KAF-eh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is caifí. Depending on context it can also mean café.
How do you pronounce caife in Irish?
Caife is said like “KAF-eh” (IPA /ˈkafʲə/).
What is the plural of coffee in Irish?
The plural of caife is caifí; with the article, na caifí means “the coffees”. The genitive plural is caifí, as in praghas na gcaifí (the price of the coffees).
Does caife have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caife can mean coffee or café, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does caife change to chaife or gcaife?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) caife becomes mo chaife (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcaife (eclipsis).
Is there a difference between caife and caifé?
Caife is the usual word for the drink coffee, while caifé is the common form for a café, though caife is also used for a café.
