Tôi có cà phê.

I have coffee.

Breakdown of Tôi có cà phê.

• tôi: I
• cà phê: the coffee
• có: to have

Questions & Answers about Tôi có cà phê.

What does Tôi mean and when should I use it compared to other Vietnamese pronouns?

Tôi literally means I in English. In Vietnamese, there are many different pronouns for "I" depending on the level of formality, relationship, or context. Tôi is considered the most neutral and polite form, suitable for most situations—especially for learners who aren’t sure which pronoun to use. Other pronouns like anh, chị, em, or mình depend on age, gender, or familiarity.

Why do we say có here?

Có literally translates to have or to possess. It’s also used in other contexts to indicate existence or confirmation, such as when asking Bạn có muốn không? (Do you want it?). In this sentence, có simply shows that you possess something—in this case, coffee.

Is there a classifier used before cà phê?

Classifiers are common in Vietnamese, but cà phê is often used without a classifier when talking about coffee in general. If you’re talking about a specific cup or glass of coffee, you can use ly or tách before cà phê. For example: Tôi có một ly cà phê (I have a glass [cup] of coffee).

How should I pronounce cà phê correctly?

Both syllables, cà and phê, use the huyền (descending) tone, often marked with a single lower dash over the vowel. It sounds like a falling tone from mid to low pitch. Make sure to pronounce each syllable clearly: cà (like gah with a slight downward pitch) and phê (like feh with a slight downward pitch). Pitch accuracy is crucial in Vietnamese to be understood correctly.

Could I use tôi with friends?

Technically yes, but it might come across as overly formal or distant in casual settings. With close friends, you might hear people use mình, tớ, or address each other by name or familial pronouns (like anh, em, etc.). It depends on personal preference and social context. Tôi remains the safest choice when you’re unsure.