French · Food & Drink
"Coffee" in French: café
le café
Coffee in French is le café, masculine, said kah-FAY. A plain un café usually means a small strong espresso. For milky coffee ask for un café crème or un café au lait.
At the counter
Un café, s'il vous plaît.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce café
Say it
kah-FAY
/ka.fe/
Kah-FAY, stress on the second syllable. The é is a clear ay sound. Soft French c as in cat, not soft s.
"Coffee" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le café | coffee / café (place) The drink and also the coffee shop. | The drink and also the coffee shop. |
| un espresso / un café express | an espresso The default small strong coffee. | The default small strong coffee. |
| un café crème | coffee with cream/milk foam Common milky order in French cafés. | Common milky order in French cafés. |
| un allongé | long black / americano-style Espresso stretched with hot water. | Espresso stretched with hot water. |
| un café au lait | coffee with milk Often a larger, milkier breakfast coffee. | Often a larger, milkier breakfast coffee. |
How to use café in real life
- 1At the counter
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
A coffee, please.
In France this usually brings a small espresso.
- 2Breakfast chat
Je prends toujours un café au lait le matin.
I always have a milky coffee in the morning.
Café au lait is the classic breakfast style.
- 3Meeting a friend
On se retrouve au café vers onze heures ?
Shall we meet at the café around eleven?
Le café can mean the place as well as the drink.
Mistakes English speakers make with café
Incorrect: Un grand coffee avec du lait.
Correct: Un café crème, s'il vous plaît.
Use café, not coffee. Name the style: crème, allongé, or café au lait.
Incorrect: La café est chaud.
Correct: Le café est chaud.
Café is masculine: le café, un café.
Good to know
Standing at the zinc bar for un café is often cheaper than sitting on the terrace. After a meal, un café means a small espresso, not a huge takeaway cup. To-go culture exists, but the classic ritual is still sit or stand and drink it there.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Morning order at a Paris corner café
ChatPal
Bonjour ! Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?
Hello! What can I get you?
You
Bonjour, un café crème, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, a café crème, please.
ChatPal
Bien sûr. Vous le prenez sur place ?
Of course. Drinking it here?
You
Oui, au comptoir. J'aime mon café bien chaud.
Yes, at the counter. I like my coffee nice and hot.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Coffee" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Coffee" in French
What do I get if I just say un café?
Usually a small espresso. Ask for crème or allongé if you want something else.
Is café masculine?
Yes: le café, un café. The place is also un café.
How do I ask for coffee with milk?
Try un café crème or un café au lait, depending on the place.
Does café mean the shop too?
Yes. On se voit au café means let's meet at the café.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
