kaffeeklatsch

noun

kaf·​fee·​klatsch ˈkȯ-fē-ˌklach How to pronounce kaffeeklatsch (audio)
ˈkä-fē-,
-ˌkläch How to pronounce kaffeeklatsch (audio)
-ˌkləch
often capitalized
: an informal social gathering for coffee and conversation

Examples of kaffeeklatsch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What’s a kaffeeklatsch? Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 31 Dec. 2022 The results are arranged to read as though these artists are talking across the decades to us and to each other, and even to Ms. Basinger and Mr. Wasson themselves—the authors occasionally drop in to the kaffeeklatsch with fiscal and legal detail and other context. Farran Smith Nehme, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022 Along Arthur Avenue, boisterous banter and affection on stoops or in cafes have largely been replaced: nods over kisses and kaffeeklatsches tethered by windowsills like Ellis Island-era laundry. Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2020 Viertel, an actress and screenwriter, didn’t limit herself to fellow German-speakers; Charlie Chaplin and Harpo Marx were also frequent guests at her Sunday kaffeeklatsches. Scott Eyman, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2020 As night falls, reservation holders will file in for a tasting-menu dinner (there’s a 6:00 p.m. and a 9:00 p.m. seating), and kaffeeklatsch turns into a cocktail hour. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2018 This wave of restaurants isn’t marked merely by longer hours; it is distinguished by genre-bending flexibility, catering to those seeking a variety of options that include kaffeeklatsches, salads on the go and sit-down dinners. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2017 But under fire for the all-male panel, Mr. McConnell reduced it to little more than a kaffeeklatsch, open to anyone who wanted to come by and chat health care. Jennifer Steinhauer, Glenn Thrush and Robert Pear, New York Times, 18 July 2017 New mothers who don’t enjoy socializing in kaffeeklatsch-style groups can be left without a support system. Sarah Deweerdt, The Atlantic, 18 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kaffeeklatsch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Kaffee coffee + Klatsch gossip

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kaffeeklatsch was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near kaffeeklatsch

Cite this Entry

“Kaffeeklatsch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kaffeeklatsch. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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