Key Facts
- 커피 (keopi) means coffee.
- Part of speech: noun; origin: loanword.
- Register: neutral, used in all registers.
- Level: A1.
Coffee in Korean: What Does 커피 Mean?
커피 has one sense, coffee, with no register restrictions. It shows up in compounds such as 커피숍, a coffee shop. Within the drinks list, 아메리카노 is a specific coffee order, 차 is tea and 카페 is the place that serves both.
How Do You Pronounce 커피?
The Revised Romanization is keopi. Written 커피, the first syllable begins with ㅋ, which is aspirated like the k in English kite, and its vowel ㅓ (eo) is close to the "u" in "cup", not an English "o". The ㅍ in 피 is aspirated too, so both consonants carry a puff of air.
How Do You Use 커피 in a Sentence?
커피 한 잔 주세요.
Please give me a cup of coffee.
Keopi han jan juseyo 한 잔 counts one cup, and 주세요 turns the sentence into a polite request. This is the sentence you use at a counter.
저는 아침마다 커피를 마셔요.
I drink coffee every morning.
Jeoneun achimmada keopireul masyeoyo 아침마다 means every morning, 저는 is I as topic and 마셔요 is drink. The object marker 를 follows 커피 because the word ends in a vowel.
커피는 뜨거워요.
The coffee is hot.
Keopineun tteugeowoyo 커피는 sets coffee as the topic, then 뜨거워요 describes it as hot. A short description sentence like this needs no verb of action.
Which Word Combinations Are Common with 커피?
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 커피를 마시다 | to drink coffee |
| 커피 한 잔 | a cup of coffee |
| 커피를 타다 | to make (instant) coffee |
| 커피숍 | coffee shop |
Coffee pairs with 마시다 for drinking and 타다 for making instant coffee. 한 잔 is the cup counter, so 커피 한 잔 is the order phrase.
What Is the Common Mistake with 커피?
Learners translate "have a coffee" with the eating verb.
Casual only: 커피를 먹다. You will hear it among friends, as in "let's grab a coffee", but it is not the textbook choice.
Correct: 커피를 마시다. Liquids take 마시다, and it is right in every register.
How Does 커피 Differ from Similar Words?
Three drink-related neighbours sit close to 커피, and each answers a different question.
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 커피 |
|---|---|---|
| 아메리카노 | americano | A specific espresso-and-water drink; 커피 is the general word. |
| 차 | tea | The other hot drink to order instead of coffee. |
| 카페 | cafe | The place, not the drink; 커피 is what you order there. |
Ordering Iced Coffee to Take Away
A customer orders at a cafe counter. The staff member checks whether the drink is for the cafe or for takeaway.
Customer
아이스 커피 한 잔 주세요.
Aiseu keopi han jan juseyo.
One iced coffee, please.
Staff
드시고 가세요?
Deusigo gaseyo?
Will you have it here?
Customer
아니요. 포장해 주세요.
Aniyo. Pojanghae juseyo.
No. To go, please.
Staff
네. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Ne. Jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo.
Okay. Please wait a moment.
아이스 names the iced version before 커피. 드시고 가세요 literally asks whether the customer will consume the drink and then leave; at a counter, it asks whether they are staying to drink it. 포장해 주세요 requests takeaway packaging. The customer can answer this service question without repeating the full drink order.
What Does 커피 한잔해요 Suggest?
커피 한잔해요 is an invitation to have a coffee together. The social point may be taking a break or spending time together rather than ordering one particular drink. You might accept the invitation and then choose tea when you reach the cafe.
In the quantity phrase 커피 한 잔, 잔 is a counter for cups or glasses, so 한 잔 is written with a space. In 한잔하다, “to have a drink”, 한잔 belongs to the verb. That is why an invitation with 한잔해요 can look different from an order counting a cup.
커피를 타다 means making coffee by mixing it, especially instant coffee with water. 타다 has other meanings elsewhere, but this combination is about preparing the drink. For coffee made by brewing or filtering, 커피를 내리다 is useful. The preparation method explains the verb choice.
Where Will You See 커피 on a Menu?
커피 can head a whole menu section. Under that heading, 아메리카노 and 카페라테 name particular drinks. Asking for 커피 is understandable, but staff may need to ask which type you want. A specific drink name makes an order more complete.
아이스 커피 is iced coffee, and 따뜻한 커피 is hot or warm coffee. English “hot” also appears as 핫 on menus, such as 핫 아메리카노. These words describe serving temperature; they do not tell you whether the drink contains milk or sugar.
디카페인 커피 is decaffeinated coffee. The word helps you ask about that menu option, but it does not mean the coffee must be completely free of caffeine. For flavor, 진한 커피 means strong or rich coffee and 연한 커피 means weak or mild coffee. These describe taste or concentration rather than an exact caffeine amount.
Words to Personalize a Coffee Order
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 우유 | milk | Distinguish milk-based coffee from black coffee. |
| 시럽 | syrup | A sweetener you may be asked about. |
| 샷 | espresso shot | Used when discussing an extra espresso shot. |
| 얼음 | ice | Useful if you want a different amount in an iced drink. |
The drinks vocabulary lesson teaches the wider beverage set. Knowing the drink name plus one detail about temperature or milk is often enough to narrow down what you want.
Politeness When Coffee Is Offered
커피 itself has no respectful replacement. When offering it to a guest, the verb can carry the respect: 드시다 is the honorific verb for eating or drinking. That explains the staff member’s 드시고 가세요 in the dialogue. When talking about your own coffee habit, 마셔요 remains the ordinary polite form, as in the morning-coffee example above.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 커피 한잔해요 always specify the exact drink someone must order?
- Which phrase fits preparing instant coffee with water?
- At the counter, what does 포장해 주세요 request?
Show answers
- No. It commonly invites someone to spend time together over coffee.
- 커피를 타다.
- Takeaway packaging: the drink is to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Order a Cup of Coffee?
Say 커피 한 잔 주세요.
Which Verb Goes with Coffee?
Use 마시다, because liquids take that verb. 먹다 is heard casually, but 마시다 is the safe choice.
What Is the Word for a Coffee Shop?
The compound 커피숍 is a coffee shop, and 카페 is also common.
How Do I Say I Drink Coffee Every Morning?
Say 저는 아침마다 커피를 마셔요.
Where to Go Next
Continue with cola in Korean for another drink, or compare 아메리카노, 차 and 카페. The drinks list is at drinks vocabulary, and the whole index is Korean words A to Z.