Qahwa
/ˈqɑː.h.wɑː/noun
A beverage made by brewing roasted coffee beans, originating from the Arab world.
Did you know?The term 'qahwa' was historically used to describe wine before it became widely associated with coffee, linking both drinks to social rituals and gatherings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Arabic
Proto-Arabic
*qḥw
“To lack or be without; originally linked to abstaining from wine.”
7th Century
Arabic
قهوة (qahwa)
“Originally referred to wine, transitioning to denote coffee as its popularity spread.”
15th Century
Ottoman Turkish
قهوة (qahwa)
“Adopted into Turkish as the drink made from roasted coffee beans.”
17th Century
English
coffee
“Borrowed from Italian 'caffè', influenced by Arabic 'qahwa' as coffee culture emerged in Europe.”