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How to Say ‘I had a coffee’ in French

J'ai pris un café

💬 Usage Tip: The literal translation is 'I took a coffee.' In French, 'prendre' (to take) is often used when ordering food or drinks.

🇫🇷 In France: Coffee culture is an integral part of French life, where it's common to relax at a café.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

J'

[zhuh]

I

First person singular pronoun.

Example

Après le déjeuner, J'ai pris un café.

After lunch, I took a coffee.

ai

[ay]

have

Helping verb used in past tense.

Example

J'ai visité le musée hier.

I visited the museum yesterday.

pris

[pree]

taken

Past participle of 'take'.

Example

J'ai pris le train ce matin.

I took the train this morning.

un

[uhn]

a

Indefinite article used for singular nouns (masculine).

Example

J'ai trouvé un chat.

I found a cat.

café

[kah-fay]

coffee

A popular caffeinated drink.

Example

J'ai pris un café avec mon petit déjeuner.

I took a coffee with my breakfast.

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