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Expressions2 MIN READ

“A pimë një kafe?” The invitation that isn't really about coffee

A colleague asks “A pimë një kafe?” Here is what the phrase says, what you're agreeing to, and the polite way to answer when they pay.

Illustration of two colleagues at a small outdoor café table with empty espresso cups and glasses of water. One of them gently waves away the other's hand as it reaches for a wallet.THE ALBANIAN NOTEBOOK

It's half past ten and a colleague leans over your desk: “Ç'kemi? A pimë një kafe?” You say yes and expect a quick espresso. An hour later you're still at a table in the sun. The cups have been empty for a while, and the talk has moved from work to family to weekend plans. When the bill arrives you reach for your wallet, and your colleague waves your hand away.

What the phrase says

A pimë një kafe? literally means “Do we drink a coffee?”

  • A turns a sentence into a yes/no question.
  • pimë means “we drink”, from pi, “to drink”.
  • një kafe means “a coffee”.

In everyday use it works like “Shall we get a coffee?” A warmer version is Hajde, të pimë një kafe!, “Come on, let's have a coffee.” Hajde means “come on”, and të pimë is the “let's drink” form.

What you're agreeing to

The coffee is the excuse and the time together is the point. Etiquette guides describe the invitation as half an hour at the very least, and often longer. If you only have ten minutes, say so at the start.

If you don't actually want coffee, you can still accept. Order tea, juice or water and keep your companion company. In a city café, plain një kafe usually gets you an espresso or a macchiato.

Who pays

Often the person who invites pays, and an offer to split the bill may be politely turned down. Instead of arguing over the bill, return the invitation:

Herën tjetër e kam unë. “Next time it's on me.”

E kam unë literally means “I have it”, and it's how you say you're paying. Habits differ between close friends and colleagues, older and younger people, and one town and another, so follow your companion's lead.

Try it

Fill the gaps:

  1. ___, të pimë një kafe! (Come on)
  2. A ___ një kafe? (we drink)
  3. Herën tjetër e ___ unë. (have)

Answers: 1. Hajde is the friendly “come on” that turns a suggestion into an invitation. 2. pimë is “we drink”, because the coffee is shared. 3. kam means “I have”, so e kam unë is “I've got it”, which means “it's on me”.

The neatest way to answer one coffee invitation is with the next one.

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