americano: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, Commercial (café/restaurant contexts)
Quick answer
What does “americano” mean?
A type of coffee drink made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water, resulting in a strength similar to but with a different flavour profile from traditional filter coffee.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of coffee drink made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water, resulting in a strength similar to but with a different flavour profile from traditional filter coffee.
Can refer broadly to anything of, from, or related to the Americas. In other contexts, it may refer to a cocktail containing Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, the term is common in coffee shops. In the UK, it's equally common, though 'long black' is a near-synonym used in some specialty contexts. In the cocktail context, it is a standard term in both.
Connotations
In coffee culture, it can sometimes carry a slight connotation of being a less 'pure' or diluted espresso drink. No strong nationalistic connotations in everyday use.
Frequency
High frequency in café contexts in both regions. Very low frequency in the general 'related to the Americas' sense.
Grammar
How to Use “americano” in a Sentence
I'd like [DET] americanoShe ordered [DET] americano [PREP] milkHe makes [DET] best americano [PREP] townVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “americano” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The americano blend was particularly smooth.
- He preferred the americano style of coffee.
American English
- She ordered an americano coffee to go.
- The americano cocktail is a classic aperitivo.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in menus, food and beverage industry reports, hospitality.
Academic
Rare; potentially in cultural studies discussing globalisation of food/drink.
Everyday
Common in café ordering scenarios and casual conversations about coffee.
Technical
Used in barista training to describe a specific beverage build.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “americano”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “americano”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “americano”
- Incorrect plural: 'americanos' (correct), not 'americanoes'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the second syllable (/ˌmɛrɪ/) is correct, not the first or third.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While both are served black, an americano is made with espresso and hot water, giving it a different flavour profile (often stronger and with more crema) than filter or drip coffee.
The preparation differs. An americano is typically made by adding hot water to espresso. A long black, common in Australia and New Zealand, involves pouring espresso over hot water to better preserve the crema.
The term is Italian, meaning 'American'. It's said to originate from American GIs in Italy during WWII who diluted espresso with hot water to approximate the filter coffee they were accustomed to.
Yes, an iced americano is very common. It is typically made by pouring espresso over cold water and ice, not by diluting with hot water first.
A type of coffee drink made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water, resulting in a strength similar to but with a different flavour profile from traditional filter coffee.
Americano is usually informal, commercial (café/restaurant contexts) in register.
Americano: in British English it is pronounced /əˌmɛrɪˈkɑːnəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌmɛrəˈkɑnoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'American' + 'o'. An American might prefer a larger, less intense coffee than a tiny Italian espresso, hence 'diluted' espresso.
Conceptual Metaphor
DILUTION IS WEAKENING (for the coffee); THE FOREIGN IS MODIFIED (an Italian product adapted for a perceived American taste).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the primary ingredient of an americano coffee?