2 syllables: Ca, fe. Stress on fe.
kuh-FAY
/kəˈfeɪ/
Cafe is pronounced kuh-FAY (/kəˈfeɪ/). It has two syllables (Ca-fe), with the stress on "fe". Cafe is a small, informal restaurant or coffeehouse where people gather to drink coffee and light meals. It is commonly used as a casual term in many English-speaking contexts, and can be pronounced with variations that reflect regional accents. The word’s pronunciation centers on a stressed first syllable and a final vowel that often sounds like “ay” or “ee,” depending on the speaker and variety.
nounCafe is a small, informal restaurant or coffeehouse where people gather to drink coffee and light meals. It is commonly used as a casual term in many English-speaking contexts, and can be pronounced with variations that reflect regional accents. The word’s pronunciation centers on a stressed first syllable and a final vowel that often sounds like “ay” or “ee,” depending on the speaker and variety.
"We met at a cozy cafe after the meeting."
"She studied in a bustling Parisian cafe, sipping espresso."
"The cafe near my apartment serves excellent croissants."
You pronounce it with two syllables and primary stress on the first: /ˈkæ.feɪ/. Start with a short front open vowel /æ/ as in 'cat', then glide into /eɪ/ as in 'say'. The mouth starts open, then relaxes into a mid-to-high position; keep the /f/ as a clear, unvoiced fricative. For a natural-paced response, think ‘KAH-feh’ with a crisp final /eɪ/; in careful speech, you’ll hear /ˈkæ.feɪ/ with a distinct second syllable.
Common mistakes include saying /ˈkeɪf/ (merging to a single syllable) or misplacing the stress as /ˈkæf.i/ with a short vowel in the second syllable. Another frequent error is a voiced /v/ or an extended vowel in the second syllable. Correction: keep stress on the first syllable and render the second as a clean /eɪ/ glide: /ˈkæ.feɪ/. Practice by exaggerating the two-channel rhythm and checking your mouth position in slow repeats.
In US English, /ˈkæ.feɪ/ with a clear /æ/ and a long /eɪ/; the second syllable can be clipped in casual speech. UK English often preserves /ˈkæf.eɪ/ or /ˈkæfi/ with a less pronounced second vowel, and Australians may favor /ˈkæ.feɪ/ with a mild schwa in some contexts. Regardless, the emphasis remains on the first syllable; the second vowel is typically a diphthong /eɪ/ but can be reduced in fast speech.
The challenge lies in balancing the vowel quality across syllables: the first /æ/ is a front lax vowel requiring a spread lip posture, while the second syllable uses a moving diphthong /eɪ/ that shifts from /e/ to /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ depending on speaker. Additionally, the unobtrusive final consonant /f/ can blend with a following word, and some speakers reduce the second syllable in rapid speech. Focus on crisp /æ/ onset and clear /eɪ/ glide.
In standard varieties, no letters are completely silent. The 'e' at the end contributes to the long vowel /eɪ/ in the second syllable rather than remaining silent; there is no silent letter as typical in this word. The /æ/ uses a distinct front open vowel, and the /f/ is fully pronounced. In careful speech you’ll hear two clear syllables; in casual speech you may perceive a quicker, slimmer /ˈkæfeɪ/.
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- US: /ˈkæ.feɪ/, rhotic; the /æ/ is bright, lips spread; second syllable carries a full diphthong /eɪ/. - UK: /ˈkæf.eɪ/ or /ˈkæfi/; often a slightly shorter second syllable, with less vowel height difference between /æ/ and /eɪ/. - AU: /ˈkæ.feɪ/; may show a touch of /ə/ in quick speech, but most speakers keep /æ/ and /eɪ/ distinct. IPA remains helpful across accents; watch vowel quality and vowel duration. - Common theme: keep stress on first syllable, ensure the /f/ is unvoiced and clear, and glide smoothly to /eɪ/.
Cafe derives from the French word cafe, meaning a coffeehouse. The term entered English in the mid-19th century, reflecting the spread of coffeehouse culture from continental Europe to English-speaking regions. The French cafe itself comes from Italian caffe, from caffea in Medieval Latin, ultimately tracing to the Arabic qahwa, a drink associated with coffee. Early English usage often used the accent on the second syllable (ca-FAY) or the first syllable (CA-feh), but over time the pronunciation settled into a form widely recognized today as /ˈkæ.feɪ/ in American English and /ˈkæ.feɪ/ or /ˈkæf.eɪ/ in British and Australian speech. The word’s adoption reflects cultural exchange, evolving from a term for a coffeehouse to a general dining concept in modern usage. First known usage in English literature appears in the late 19th century with references to Parisian and Italian cafes, marking the global influence of coffee culture.
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Words that rhyme with "Cafe"
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