expresso
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does expresso mean? Expresso is a variant of the word espresso, a kind of strong coffee made by forcing steam or boiling water through ground, dark-roast coffee beans. Is expresso a word?The term expresso originated as a mispronunciation and misspelling of espresso. But it has become used commonly enough to be added to the dictionary. Being in the dictionary doesn’t make it a word—people using it commonly and you knowing what they mean makes it a word!In English, the letter combination es is far less common than ex at the beginning of words. So for many English speakers, it feels more natural to pronounce the beginning of espresso as ex rather than es. This has probably been influenced by the word express, which is associated with speed, and the stimulating effects of espresso’s jolt of caffeine. We know, we know—some people don’t think expresso is a “real word.” But this is how language works. In English, it isn’t all that unusual for variant spellings and pronunciations to become the standard over time. For example, the word bird comes from the Middle English term bryd. The word apron was originally napron, but changed due to the fact that saying a napron sounds a lot like an apron. The word espresso can also refer to a cup of espresso (as in I like to have an espresso after dinner) or an espresso machine (as in I got an espresso so now I can make my favorite drinks at home), and the word expresso can be used in these ways as well. Example: The barista corrected me when I ordered an expresso, but I can’t be held responsible for what I say before I’ve had my coffee.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of expresso
By association with express
Compare meaning
How does expresso compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Speaking to local media outlet Expresso das Ilhas, Ms Brito added that the country did not have the radar equipment required to forecast the extent of the rains.
From BBC • Aug. 13, 2025
"Expresso, soy milk, and vanilla syrup," the barista instantly responded, "We also have 2% and whole milk."
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2023
Portuguese newspaper Expresso said a hacker group called Ragnar Locker was offering the information of 1.5 million TAP Air Portugal customers on the dark web.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 22, 2022
"It does not take into account the differences between countries," he told newspaper Expresso, warning that a forced gas cut amid low Iberian hydropower production could cause power cuts.
From Reuters • Jul. 21, 2022
Rui Gustavo, a journalist for the Expresso newspaper, said police disagreements were overplayed, and readers were following the case as closely as ever.
From The Guardian • Jun. 20, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
