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cafe

/ˈkæfeɪ/
noun★BeginnerLoanword from French café
informal

A small restaurant or coffee shop that typically serves coffee, tea, and light meals or snacks.

We met at the local cafe for a quick breakfast.

They often work from a cozy cafe downtown.

💡

The term is derived from French and is commonly used in English-speaking countries.

Collocations

cafe culturethe social and cultural practice of frequenting cafescafe societya social scene centered around cafes

Synonyms

Related Phrases

cafe hoppingphrase
visiting multiple cafes in one outing

💡Pro Tip

Spelling Variation

Note that 'cafe' is the standard spelling in American English, while British English often uses 'café' with an accent.

📖Word Origin

From French 'café', meaning 'coffee', ultimately from Italian 'caffè', from Arabic 'qahwah'.

📝Usage Notes

In American English, 'cafe' is the standard spelling, while British English may use 'café' with an accent.

Word Breakdown

caf
from the French word for 'coffee'
root
+
e
a common French noun ending
suffix
English Dictionary

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