How to pronounce coffee
Say it like KOF-ee. Coffee has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce coffee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOF
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coffee pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of coffee
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOF-ee.
Other ways to say coffee
Coffee also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAW-fee /ˈkɔfi/
What does coffee mean?
- a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans“he ordered a cup of coffee”
- any of several small trees and shrubs native to the tropical Old World yielding coffee beans
- a seed of the coffee tree; ground to make coffee
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying coffee
How do you pronounce coffee?
Say KOF-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑfi/. In British English it is /ˈkɒfi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coffee?
Coffee has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOF). Broken into parts: KOF · ee.
Is coffee pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒfi/ (KOF-ee).