A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Let's have coffee" in French
Suggest a casual coffee break with someone in France. Perfect for a friendly chat.
On prend un café ?
ohn prahn uhn kah-FAYcasual
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you want to suggest a spontaneous coffee break with a friend or someone you're getting to know. It's a relaxed way to extend a conversation or suggest meeting up.
Alternatives
- On va boire un café ?Slightly more explicit about the action of drinking.
- Ça te dit un café ?More direct question asking if they are interested.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'prend' like 'prend'
The 'en' in 'prend' is a nasal vowel, like the 'on' in 'song' but without fully closing your mouth.
Forgetting the liaison
In spoken French, the 'n' from 'un' often links to the vowel of 'café', sounding like 'uh-nah-FAY'.
A small cultural note
Suggesting 'un café' is a very common and low-pressure way to socialize or extend an interaction in France, often implying a short, pleasant chat.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
Is 'On prend un café ?' for dating?
It can be used in a dating context, especially for a first or second casual meeting. It's also perfectly fine for just friends.
What if I want to be more formal?
For a more formal situation, you'd likely use 'Voudriez-vous prendre un café ?' or 'Souhaitez-vous prendre un café ?' with 'vous'.
When should I use 'tu' vs 'vous' with this?
Use 'tu' (implied in 'On prend...') with friends or people you're on a first-name basis with. Use 'vous' in more formal settings or with strangers.
