espresso
English

Etymology
Borrowed from Italian espresso, from caffè espresso (“pressed-out coffee”), form of esprimere (“to press out”), from Latin exprimere, from ex- (“out”) + primere (“to press”).[1]
Some sources derive the term from “expressly (‘individually, directly’) made for the customer”,[2] or as “fast” (Italian espresso also meaning “fast”, as in English express (“fast”)) but these are not widely credited. The original term for modern espresso (coffee extracted under pressure) was cream coffee, from Italian caffè crema (variant: crema caffè), due to the crema, and was seen on early Gaggia machines, but this term is no longer used.[3]
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɛˈspɹɛsəʊ/, /ɪˈspɹɛsəʊ/, /əˈspɹɛsəʊ/; (proscribed) /ɛkˈspɹɛsəʊ/, /ɪkˈspɹɛsəʊ/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɛˈspɹɛsoʊ/; (proscribed) /ɛkˈspɹɛsoʊ/, /ɪkˈspɹɛsoʊ/
Audio (UK) (file)
Synonyms
- 'spro (slang)
Related terms
Translations
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References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “espresso”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “espresso”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
- Morris, Jonathan (2007), The Cappuccino Conquests. The Transnational History of Italian Coffee, website, summary
Czech
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian espresso, a shortening of caffè espresso (literally “pressed coffee”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌɛsˈprɛ.soː/
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: es‧pres‧so
Derived terms
- espressoapparaat
- espressomachine
Finnish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈes.presːo/, [ˈe̞s̠.pre̞s̠ːo̞]
- Rhymes: -es.presːo
- Syllabification(key): es‧pres‧so
Declension
Inflection of espresso (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation) | |||
---|---|---|---|
nominative | espresso | espressot | |
genitive | espresson | espressojen | |
partitive | espressoa | espressoja | |
illative | espressoon | espressoihin | |
singular | plural | ||
nominative | espresso | espressot | |
accusative | nom. | espresso | espressot |
gen. | espresson | ||
genitive | espresson | espressojen | |
partitive | espressoa | espressoja | |
inessive | espressossa | espressoissa | |
elative | espressosta | espressoista | |
illative | espressoon | espressoihin | |
adessive | espressolla | espressoilla | |
ablative | espressolta | espressoilta | |
allative | espressolle | espressoille | |
essive | espressona | espressoina | |
translative | espressoksi | espressoiksi | |
instructive | — | espressoin | |
abessive | espressotta | espressoitta | |
comitative | — | espressoineen |
Possessive forms of espresso (type valo) | ||
---|---|---|
possessor | singular | plural |
1st person | espressoni | espressomme |
2nd person | espressosi | espressonne |
3rd person | espressonsa |
Italian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /eˈsprɛs.so/
- Rhymes: -ɛsso
- Hyphenation: e‧sprès‧so
Participle
espresso (feminine espressa, masculine plural espressi, feminine plural espresse)
- past participle of esprimere
Noun
espresso m (plural espressi)
- Clipping of caffè espresso (“espresso”).
- Vuoi un espresso? ― Do you want an/one espresso?
- Synonym: (idiomatic) caffè liscio
- express letter
- Clipping of treno espresso (“express train”).
- l'espresso delle cinque ― the express train of five o'clock
Related terms
Polish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛsˈprɛs.sɔ/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -ɛssɔ
- Syllabification: es‧pres‧so
Romanian
Declension
singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
nominative/accusative | (un) espresso | espressoul | (niște) espresso | espressole |
genitive/dative | (unui) espresso | espressoului | (unor) espresso | espressolor |
vocative | espressoule | espressolor |
Spanish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /esˈpɾeso/ [esˈpɾe.so]
- Rhymes: -eso
- Syllabification: es‧pres‧so