tiền cà phê
noun
Hanoi [tiən˨˩ kaː˨˩ fe˧˧]Huế [tiəŋ˦˩ kaː˦˩ fej˧˧]Saigon [tiəŋ˨˩ kaː˨˩ fej˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
tiền cà phê means cà phê.
Meanings of tiền cà phê in English
Noun
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tiền, cà phê.
- colloquial, euphemistic, figurative, rare bribe; coffee money
Etymology
tiền + cà phê. Possibly a calque of Malay duit kopi (“bribe”, literally “coffee money”).
Frequently asked questions
What does tiền cà phê mean in English?
tiền cà phê (noun) means "cà phê".
How do you pronounce tiền cà phê?
IPA: Hanoi [tiən˨˩ kaː˨˩ fe˧˧]; Saigon [tiəŋ˨˩ kaː˨˩ fej˧˧]. Tones: tiền — falling tone (huyền), cà — falling tone (huyền), phê — level tone (ngang).