Portuguese · Food & Drink
Café
[/kaˈfɛ/]
Coffee
Definition
A hot beverage made from roasted coffee beans.
Bebida quente feita de grãos de café torrados.
Example
Brasileiro adora um bom café.
Brazilians love a good coffee.
Etymology
The word 'café' comes from the Arabic 'qahwa', which referred to coffee and its stimulating properties. It entered European languages through Turkish as 'kahve' and evolved into the Portuguese 'café' in the 17th century.
How & Where It’s Used
'Café' is used in both formal and informal settings, commonly in spoken language across Brazil and Portugal. It refers to coffee as a beverage and can also denote coffee shops or cafés. Regional variations might see different preferences for coffee types.
Literary Heritage
The concept of 'café' appears in various works, including poetry by authors like Carlos Drummond de Andrade and songs that romanticize the act of sharing coffee.
Cultural Note
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer. The "cafezinho" (small coffee) is a cultural institution.