A1 Collocation Neutral

Stipri kava

Strong coffee

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'stipri kava' to describe coffee with a high concentration of caffeine or a very intense, bold flavor profile.

  • Means: Intense, high-caffeine coffee (literally 'strong coffee').
  • Used in: Ordering at cafes, morning conversations, and office breaks.
  • Don't confuse: 'Stipri' (strong) with 'karšta' (hot) or 'karti' (bitter).
☕ + 💪 = ⚡️

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'stipri kava' is a simple noun-adjective pair. You learn that 'kava' is feminine, so you use 'stipri'. You use it to order drinks or say what you like. It's one of the first 'food' phrases you will master because it's used every day in cafes and homes.
You begin to use 'stipri kava' in different cases. You can say 'Noriu stiprios kavos' (Genitive) when ordering. You also learn the opposite, 'silpna kava'. You can describe your morning routine using this phrase and understand when someone offers it to you at their house.
At the intermediate level, you use the phrase to discuss preferences and effects. You might explain *why* you need 'stipri kava' (e.g., because you didn't sleep well). you understand that 'stipri' refers to both caffeine and flavor intensity and can use it in more complex sentences with conjunctions like 'nors' (although).
You understand the nuance between 'stipri' and 'karti' (bitter). You can participate in discussions about coffee culture and roast types. You use the phrase naturally in idiomatic ways, such as describing a situation that is 'stipri kava' (metaphorically intense), though this is less common than the literal use.
You can analyze the etymology of 'stiprus' and its application to liquids. You recognize the phrase in literature and media, understanding the subtle social cues involved in offering or requesting 'stipri kava'. You can discuss the chemical properties of caffeine using this terminology in a professional or academic setting.
You have a near-native grasp of the phrase's prosody and its place within the broader Lithuanian linguistic landscape. You can use it in creative writing or high-level debate, perhaps contrasting 'stipri kava' with 'švelni kava' to discuss sensory aesthetics or cultural shifts in Lithuanian consumption habits over the last century.

Meaning

Coffee with intense flavor.

🌍

Cultural Background

In Lithuania, it is common to drink coffee 'plikyta' (steeped). You put ground coffee in a cup and pour boiling water over it. This often results in a very 'stipri kava' with grounds at the bottom. Vilnius has a 'Coffee Culture Day' where many cafes offer special brews. 'Stipri kava' is often the benchmark for a barista's skill in balancing intensity and acidity. During long meetings, providing 'stipri kava' is seen as a way to keep the team focused. It's almost expected in IT and creative sectors. When visiting a Lithuanian home, you will almost always be offered coffee. If you say you like it 'stipri', your host might take it as a sign that you are a serious, down-to-earth person.

💡

Ordering Tip

If you want an espresso but want to sound more local, you can ask for 'maža stipri kava' (small strong coffee).

⚠️

Case Alert

Don't forget that 'noriu' (I want) changes the ending to 'stiprios kavos'!

Meaning

Coffee with intense flavor.

💡

Ordering Tip

If you want an espresso but want to sound more local, you can ask for 'maža stipri kava' (small strong coffee).

⚠️

Case Alert

Don't forget that 'noriu' (I want) changes the ending to 'stiprios kavos'!

🎯

Adjective Order

Always put 'stipri' before 'kava' unless you are describing it as a full sentence ('Kava yra stipri').

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'stiprus' (strong).

Man patinka ______ kava.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stipri

The noun 'kava' is feminine nominative, so we use the feminine nominative form 'stipri'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct for ordering coffee?

How do you say 'I want strong coffee'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Noriu stiprios kavos

The verb 'noriu' requires the Genitive case: 'stiprios kavos'.

Match the Lithuanian phrase with its English meaning.

Phrases: 1. Silpna kava, 2. Stipri kava, 3. Karti kava, 4. Karšta kava

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-C, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D

Silpna = Weak, Stipri = Strong, Karti = Bitter, Karšta = Hot.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Ar kava gera? B: Taip, bet ji labai ______.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stipri

B is describing the coffee (Nominative), so 'stipri' is correct.

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

Case Changes for 'Stipri kava'

Nominative (Subject)
Stipri kava Strong coffee
Genitive (Wanting)
Stiprios kavos Some strong coffee
Accusative (Drinking)
Stiprią kavą Strong coffee (obj)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not exactly. Espresso is always 'stipri', but 'stipri kava' can also refer to a very strong drip coffee or French press.

You can say 'ne per stipri kava' or 'vidutinio stiprumo kava' (medium strength).

Because 'kava' is a feminine noun. Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe.

Yes! 'Stipri arbata' is perfectly correct for strong tea.

The opposite is 'silpna kava' (weak coffee).

No, it's not rude, but it's more polite to wait for them to ask how you like it.

Usually, but in common speech, it often just refers to the intensity of the flavor.

Use the adverb 'labai': 'labai stipri kava'.

No, that sounds like the coffee has superpowers. Stick to 'stipri'.

It is the Accusative case, used when the coffee is the direct object of a verb like 'geriu' (I drink).

Related Phrases

🔗

Silpna kava

contrast

Weak coffee

🔗

Juoda kava

similar

Black coffee

🔗

Kavos pertraukėlė

builds on

Coffee break

🔗

Dviguba kava

specialized form

Double coffee

Where to Use It

☕

Ordering at a trendy Vilnius cafe

Barista: Sveiki, ko norėtumėte?

Learner: Sveiki, man reikia labai stiprios kavos.

neutral
💻

At the office during a deadline

Kolega: Atrodai pavargęs. Gal kavos?

Learner: Taip, prašau. Padaryk stiprią.

informal
🏠

Hosting a Lithuanian guest

Learner: Ar jums patinka stipri kava?

Svečias: Taip, geriu tik stiprią juodą kavą.

neutral
⛽

At a gas station (degalinė)

Learner: Kuri kava čia pati stipriausia?

Darbuotojas: Mūsų dvigubas espresas yra labai stiprus.

neutral
📱

On a dating app

Match: Ką veiki?

Learner: Geriu stiprią kavą ir skaitau knygą.

informal
🍳

Breakfast at a hotel

Padavėjas: Ar kava buvo gera?

Learner: Taip, bet man patinka šiek tiek stipresnė.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'STEEP' (stipri) mountain you have to climb—you need 'strong' coffee to get to the top!

Visual Association

Imagine a coffee bean wearing a tiny weightlifting belt and lifting a heavy barbell. The steam from the cup forms the shape of a flexing bicep.

Rhyme

Kava stipri – diena gera ir giedri! (Coffee is strong - the day is good and bright!)

Story

Jonas had a big exam. He went to the kitchen and made 'stipri kava'. He drank it, his eyes opened wide like saucers, and he studied all night. Now, every time he sees a textbook, he smells 'stipri kava'.

Word Web

kavastipripuodeliskofeinasrytasjuodacukruspienas

Challenge

Next time you are in a cafe (or pretending to be), say out loud: 'Prašau vieną stiprią kavą.' Repeat it 5 times with different emotions.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Café fuerte

Spanish has 'cargado' as a common alternative.

French moderate

Café fort / Café serré

French uses 'serré' for technical concentration.

German high

Starker Kaffee

Grammatical gender (Kaffee is masculine in German, feminine in Lithuanian).

Japanese moderate

濃いコーヒー (Koi kōhī)

Japanese focuses on density/color rather than 'strength'.

Arabic partial

قهوة ثقيلة (Qahwa thaqila)

Arabic uses 'heavy' instead of 'strong'.

Chinese partial

浓咖啡 (Nóng kāfēi)

Focus on concentration/thickness.

Korean partial

진한 커피 (Jin-han keo-pi)

Focus on depth and thickness.

Portuguese high

Café forte

No major difference in usage.

Easily Confused

Stipri kava vs Karti kava

Both describe intense sensations, but one is about strength (caffeine/roast) and the other is about a specific taste (bitterness).

If it wakes you up, it's 'stipri'. If it makes your face scrunch up, it's 'karti'.

Stipri kava vs Karšta kava

Phonetically similar to a beginner's ear (K-R-T vs S-T-I-P-R).

Remember 'Karšta' = 'Hot' (like a car's radiator).

FAQ (10)

Not exactly. Espresso is always 'stipri', but 'stipri kava' can also refer to a very strong drip coffee or French press.

You can say 'ne per stipri kava' or 'vidutinio stiprumo kava' (medium strength).

Because 'kava' is a feminine noun. Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe.

Yes! 'Stipri arbata' is perfectly correct for strong tea.

The opposite is 'silpna kava' (weak coffee).

No, it's not rude, but it's more polite to wait for them to ask how you like it.

Usually, but in common speech, it often just refers to the intensity of the flavor.

Use the adverb 'labai': 'labai stipri kava'.

No, that sounds like the coffee has superpowers. Stick to 'stipri'.

It is the Accusative case, used when the coffee is the direct object of a verb like 'geriu' (I drink).

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