café
A café is a small restaurant where you can buy coffee, tea, and light snacks.
Explanation at your level:
A café is a small shop. You go there to drink coffee or tea. You can also eat a sandwich or a cake. It is a nice place to sit with friends.
A café is a popular place for breakfast or a light lunch. Many people visit a café to relax. You can order a drink and sit at a table for a long time.
The café is a staple of modern social life. It serves as a comfortable space to study, work, or catch up with friends. Most cafés offer a variety of hot drinks and snacks.
Beyond its function as a food service provider, the café acts as a 'third space'—a social environment separate from home and work. It is an essential element of urban infrastructure.
Historically, the café has served as an intellectual incubator. From the literary salons of Paris to modern coworking spaces, the café remains a site of cultural exchange and creative output.
The café represents a unique intersection of commerce and conviviality. Its etymology reflects the global movement of goods and ideas, while its contemporary role highlights the human need for communal, semi-public spaces in an increasingly digital world.
30秒でわかる単語
- Café is a small restaurant.
- It serves coffee and snacks.
- It is a social place.
- The word comes from French.
A café is more than just a place to get a caffeine fix; it is a social hub. Whether you are meeting a friend or working on your laptop, the café provides a welcoming environment.
Think of it as a middle ground between a formal restaurant and your own living room. It is designed for leisure and conversation rather than heavy dining.
The word café comes directly from the French word for 'coffee.' Its roots trace back to the Italian caffè and the Turkish kahve.
Historically, the first cafés appeared in the Middle East and later became intellectual centers in 17th-century Europe. They were known as 'penny universities' because for the price of a cup of coffee, you could listen to brilliant minds debate.
You will often hear people say they are 'going to a café' or 'meeting at a café.' It is a very common, neutral term used in daily life.
In some regions, people might use 'coffee shop' interchangeably, but 'café' often implies a slightly more European or relaxed vibe compared to a fast-paced coffee chain.
While there are few formal idioms using the word, people often use phrases like 'café society' to describe fashionable people who spend their time in social venues. Another is 'café au lait', which refers to a specific style of coffee, but is often used to describe a light brown color.
You might also hear 'café culture', which refers to the social habits of people who enjoy spending time in these venues.
The plural form is cafés. Note the accent on the 'e', which is often kept in English to honor its French origin.
Pronounced ka-FAY, the stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with 'day', 'play', and 'stay'. It is a countable noun, so you can say 'a café' or 'two cafés'.
Fun Fact
The word originally referred to the drink itself before it referred to the place.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'a' sound followed by a long 'ay'.
Similar to UK, emphasis on the second syllable.
Common Errors
- Missing the accent
- Mispronouncing the final 'e'
- Stressing the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Countable nouns
One café, two cafés.
Articles
A café.
Present simple
I go to the café.
Examples by Level
I go to the café.
I visit the shop.
Simple present tense.
We met at the café for lunch.
The café is closed today.
I like the coffee at this café.
Is there a café near here?
They work in a small café.
The café has nice chairs.
She ordered a tea at the café.
Let's sit in the café.
This café serves the best pastries in town.
I spent the afternoon writing in a quiet café.
The café was crowded with students.
He runs a small family café.
I prefer the atmosphere of this café.
We found a lovely café by the river.
The café offers free Wi-Fi.
Let's grab a coffee at the corner café.
The café has become a hub for local artists.
Despite the rain, the café was bustling.
She frequented the café during her university years.
The décor of the café is quite minimalist.
Café culture is very strong in this city.
The café provides a perfect backdrop for a meeting.
I enjoy the vibrant energy of the café.
They transformed the old building into a charming café.
The café serves as a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the city noise.
The café's aesthetic is reminiscent of 1920s Paris.
He engaged in a spirited debate at the café.
The café has cultivated a loyal following of writers.
The café's ambiance is conducive to deep work.
It is a quintessential neighborhood café.
The café is a testament to the owner's passion for coffee.
The café offers a respite from the daily grind.
The café functions as an informal agora for the local community.
Her novel captures the transient nature of café life.
The café is an architectural landmark in the district.
It embodies the spirit of the bohemian café scene.
The café is a locus of social interaction.
The café's history is intertwined with the city's evolution.
The café provides a stage for daily human dramas.
The café remains a bastion of traditional hospitality.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"café society"
Fashionable people who frequent social places.
She was a member of the local café society.
formal"café au lait"
Coffee with milk.
I ordered a café au lait.
neutral"café racer"
A type of motorcycle.
He restored a vintage café racer.
casual"café culture"
Social habits of café-goers.
He loves the café culture in Italy.
neutral"coffee break"
A short rest from work.
Let's take a quick coffee break.
neutral"spill the beans"
To reveal a secret.
He finally spilled the beans about the party.
casualEasily Confused
Similar sound.
Cafeteria is for self-service meals.
The school cafeteria.
Related meaning.
Coffee is the drink; café is the place.
I drink coffee at the café.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + go to + café
I go to the café.
Subject + meet at + café
We met at the café.
Subject + work in + café
She works in a café.
Subject + find + café
They found a nice café.
Subject + enjoy + café culture
I enjoy café culture.
語族
Nouns
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
The accent is part of the correct spelling in English.
Cafeteria is for self-service meals; café is for drinks/snacks.
The 'e' at the end is long.
Café is only a noun.
Keep the accent in the plural.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine your kitchen is a café.
Native Speakers
Use 'coffee shop' in the US.
Culture
Cafés are social hubs.
Grammar
Countable noun.
Say It Right
Stress the second syllable.
Don't Forget the Accent
It's café, not cafe.
Did You Know?
First cafés were in the Middle East.
Study Smart
Write a diary entry at a café.
Rhyme
Rhymes with day.
Vibe
Cafés are for relaxing.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Café starts with C, like Coffee.
Visual Association
A steaming cup of coffee on a small round table.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Describe your favorite café in three sentences.
語源
French
Original meaning: coffee
文化的な背景
None.
In the US, 'coffee shop' is more common than 'café'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Socializing
- Let's meet at the café
- Grab a coffee
- Catch up
Working
- Working from a café
- Need Wi-Fi
- Quiet corner
Traveling
- Where is a café?
- Is there a café nearby?
- Open for breakfast
Dining
- A light lunch
- Pastry and coffee
- Menu please
Conversation Starters
"Do you like spending time in a café?"
"What is your favorite café in town?"
"Do you prefer coffee or tea at a café?"
"Do you work better in a café or at home?"
"What makes a good café?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your favorite café.
Why do people enjoy going to cafés?
Write about a memorable meeting at a café.
If you owned a café, what would it be like?
よくある質問
8 問Yes, it is standard in English.
Yes, it is a synonym.
Cafés.
It is neutral.
Coffee and light meals.
French.
It is a small type of restaurant.
Yes, many people do.
自分をテスト
I drink coffee at the ___.
Café is a place for coffee.
What is a café?
It is a small restaurant for drinks.
You can eat a full 5-course meal at a café.
Cafés usually serve light meals.
Word
意味
Definitions match.
We met at the café.
スコア： /5
Summary
A café is a cozy spot for coffee and conversation.
- Café is a small restaurant.
- It serves coffee and snacks.
- It is a social place.
- The word comes from French.
Memory Palace
Imagine your kitchen is a café.
Native Speakers
Use 'coffee shop' in the US.
Culture
Cafés are social hubs.
Grammar
Countable noun.
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