Italian · Food & Drink

"Tea" in Italian:

il tè

Say it: tehmasculine · il tènoun/tɛ/

Tea in Italian is il tè (teh), a masculine noun with a written accent. Hot tea is un tè caldo; iced tea is tè freddo or tè alla pesca for peach iced tea on many menus.

Evening at a café

Prendo un tè alla menta.
I'll have a mint tea.
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How to pronounce tè

Say it

teh

/tɛ/

Tè is a short open teh with stress on that single syllable. The accent on è is written. Keep it clipped.

"Tea" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
il tètea

Default masculine noun.

un tè caldoa hot tea

Café order when you want it hot.

tè freddoiced tea

Summer and bottled drinks.

tè alla pescapeach tea

Common flavoured iced tea.

How to use in real life

  1. 1Evening at a café

    Prendo un tè alla menta.

    I'll have a mint tea.

    Alla + flavour after tè.

  2. 2Feeling cold

    Mi serve un tè caldo adesso.

    I need a hot tea now.

    Caldo clarifies temperature.

  3. 3Summer terrace

    Preferisci tè freddo o acqua?

    Do you prefer iced tea or water?

    Tè freddo without the article in a short list.

Mistakes English speakers make with

Incorrect: La tè è pronto.

Correct: Il tè è pronto.

Tè is masculine: il tè.

Incorrect: Vorrei un te senza accento scritto.

Correct: Vorrei un tè.

Write the accent: tè. Te without accent means you (object).

Good to know

Coffee dominates Italian bars, but tè appears everywhere for evenings, sore throats, and tourists. Asking for latte with tea is fine; staff may still default to lemon unless you specify.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Ordering after dinner in Turin

  1. ChatPal

    Io prendo un tè. Tu cosa vuoi?

    I'll have a tea. What do you want?

  2. You

    Un tè alla camomilla, per favore.

    A chamomile tea, please.

  3. ChatPal

    Bene. Il tè arriva caldo, no latte.

    Good. The tea comes hot, no milk.

  4. You

    Perfetto. Il tè così mi calma.

    Perfect. Tea like that calms me.

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"Tea" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Tea" in Italian

Is tè masculine?

Yes: il tè, un tè. Plural is rare in orders; you usually repeat un tè.

Why the accent on tè?

It marks stress and keeps it distinct from te (you).

How do I say iced tea?

Tè freddo. Peach iced tea is often tè alla pesca.

How do I order tea with lemon?

Un tè al limone, per favore.

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