Café

Cafe redirects here. For other uses of  Cafe or  CAFE, see Cafe (disambiguation).

A café (also spelled cafe, pronounced ['kæfeɪ] or [kæ'feɪ]) is a type of cafeteria, often with an enclosed or outdoor section extending onto the sidewalk, where meals are served. Generally serving coffee and other beverages, cafés (or more commonly known as cafeterias) also serve meals but this is generally not considered their main trade (in contrast to a restaurant).

The term can also refer to a coffeehouse, tea room, lunchroom, bistro or a room in a hotel or restaurant where coffee and liquors are served. In the Netherlands, a café is an establishment selling liquor, as opposed a coffeeshop, which sells soft drugs (cannibis and hashish) and is typically not allowed to sell liquor.

Etymology, spelling, and pronunciation of café

The most common spelling café is the French spelling, and was adopted by English-speaking countries in the late 19th century ^[1]. Although a few English-language-centered people think that the word comes from the name of coffee itself, etymologists generally consider that the word café comes from the French name of this beverage, coming from the arabic name qhawa transformed into kaweh (strength, vigor) in the Ottoman empire and finally spread in the world as caffé by French explorers. Both the modern French spelling and the English spelling are derived from this word. Café can also be spelt caffè (the Italian spelling), especially if in Italy or if the café is owned by Italians ^[2]. In southern England, especially around London in the 1950s, the French pronunciation was often shortened to [kæf] and spelt caff ^[3].

As English words generally lack accent marks, the spelling cafe has also become very common in the USA. (See anglicisation.)

See also

• Cybercafé

References

1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition (1989), entry number 50031127 (café)
2. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition (1989), entry number 00333259 (caffé, n)
3. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition (1989), entry number 50031130 (caff)

Wikipedia information about Café This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Café". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.