Expresso

/ɛkˈsprɛsoʊ/ noun

Definition

A misspelling or alternate pronunciation of 'espresso,' the strong black coffee made by forcing hot water through ground coffee beans.

Etymology

This is a common mispronunciation of Italian 'espresso' (from esprimere, 'to press out'). English speakers unfamiliar with Italian often pronounce it with an 'x' sound, and this variant spelling became so common it appears in some dictionaries as a colloquial variant.

Kelly Says

Expresso is one of the most commonly mispronounced words in English—so common that linguists actually track how many coffee shops misspell it on their signs, making it a fascinating example of how mistakes can become standard through sheer repetition.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.