First appears c. 1655, in the English translation Álvaro Semedo’s writings. From Dutch thee, from Hokkien 茶 (tê) (Amoy dialect), from Old Chinese, ultimately from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-la (“leaf, tea”). Introduced to English and other Western European languages by the Dutch East India Company, who sourced their tea in Amoy; compare Malay teh along the same trade route. Doublet of chai and cha (and, distantly, the first element of lahpet), from same Proto-Sino-Tibetan root; see discussion of cognates.
Cognates
The word for “tea” in many languages is of Sinitic origin (due to China being the origin of the plant), and thus there are many cognates; see translations. These are from one of two proximate sources, reflected in the phonological shape: forms with a stop (e.g. /t/) are derived from Min Nan tê, while forms with an affricate (e.g. /tʃ/) are derived from other Sinitic languages, like Mandarin chá or Cantonese caa4 (all written as 茶). Different languages borrowed one or the other form (specific language and point in time varied), reflecting trade ties, generally Min Nan tê if by ocean trade from Fujian, Cantonese caa4 if by ocean trade from Guangdong, or northern Chinese chá if by overland trade or by ocean trade from India.
Thus Western and Northern European languages borrowed tê (with the exception of Portuguese, which uses chá; despite being by ocean trade, their source was in Macao, not Amoy), while chá borrowings are used over a very large geographical area of Eurasia and Africa: Southern and Eastern Europe, and on through Turkish, Arabic, North and East Africa, Persian, Central Asian, and Indic languages. In Europe the tê/chá line is Italian/Slovene, Hungarian/Romanian, German/Czech, Polish/Ukrainian, Baltics/Russian, Finnish/Karelian, Northern Sami/Inari Sami. tê was also borrowed in European trade stops in Southern India and coastal Africa, though chá borrowings are otherwise more prevalent in these regions, via Arabic or Indic, due to earlier trade. The situation in Southeast Asia is complex due to multiple influences, and some languages borrowed both forms, such as Malay teh and ca.
Etymology 1, noun sense 12 (“information, especially gossip”) may be originally from T standing for truth, which evolved into tea. An alternative explanation dates back to gay African-American culture in the 1970s and alludes to women gossiping over afternoon tea.
First appears c. 1655, in the English translation Álvaro Semedo’s writings. From Dutch thee, from Hokkien 茶 (tê) (Amoy dialect), from Old Chinese, ultimately from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-la (“leaf, tea”). Introduced to English and other Western European languages by the Dutch East India Company, who sourced their tea in Amoy; compare Malay teh along the same trade route. Doublet of chai and cha (and, distantly, the first element of lahpet), from same Proto-Sino-Tibetan root; see discussion of cognates.
Cognates
The word for “tea” in many languages is of Sinitic origin (due to China being the origin of the plant), and thus there are many cognates; see translations. These are from one of two proximate sources, reflected in the phonological shape: forms with a stop (e.g. /t/) are derived from Min Nan tê, while forms with an affricate (e.g. /tʃ/) are derived from other Sinitic languages, like Mandarin chá or Cantonese caa4 (all written as 茶). Different languages borrowed one or the other form (specific language and point in time varied), reflecting trade ties, generally Min Nan tê if by ocean trade from Fujian, Cantonese caa4 if by ocean trade from Guangdong, or northern Chinese chá if by overland trade or by ocean trade from India.
Thus Western and Northern European languages borrowed tê (with the exception of Portuguese, which uses chá; despite being by ocean trade, their source was in Macao, not Amoy), while chá borrowings are used over a very large geographical area of Eurasia and Africa: Southern and Eastern Europe, and on through Turkish, Arabic, North and East Africa, Persian, Central Asian, and Indic languages. In Europe the tê/chá line is Italian/Slovene, Hungarian/Romanian, German/Czech, Polish/Ukrainian, Baltics/Russian, Finnish/Karelian, Northern Sami/Inari Sami. tê was also borrowed in European trade stops in Southern India and coastal Africa, though chá borrowings are otherwise more prevalent in these regions, via Arabic or Indic, due to earlier trade. The situation in Southeast Asia is complex due to multiple influences, and some languages borrowed both forms, such as Malay teh and ca.
Etymology 1, noun sense 12 (“information, especially gossip”) may be originally from T standing for truth, which evolved into tea. An alternative explanation dates back to gay African-American culture in the 1970s and alludes to women gossiping over afternoon tea.
Meanings
(uncountable) The tea plant (Camellia sinensis); (countable) a variety of this plant.
Darjeeling tea is grown in India.
(uncountable) The dried leaves or buds of the tea plant; (countable) a variety of such leaves.
Not for all the tea in China.
Go to the supermarket and buy some Darjeeling tea.
(uncountable) The drink made by infusing these dried leaves or buds in hot water.
Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres. 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
She is drinking her tea right now.
Would you like some tea?
(Southern-US, countable, uncountable) Specifically sweet tea, an iced tea supersaturated with sugar.
(countable, uncountable) Any drink which is similar to Camellia sinensis tea in some way
Mushroom Tea / 8 cups water / 1 cup dried reishi mushroom pieces [...] 1. Start by making Reishi Mushroom Tea: Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. 2. Add the reishi mushroom pieces[…] 2019 February 12, Maryea Flaherty, Anti-Inflammatory Drinks for Health: 100 Smoothies, Shots, Teas, Broths, and Seltzers to Help Prevent Disease, Lose Weight, Increase Energy, Look Radiant, Reduce Pain, and More!, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 141:
(uncountable) Any drink which is similar to Camellia sinensis tea in some way: ▸ Any similar drink made by infusing parts of various other plants.
Curcuma tea relieves colds[…] 2017 January 3, Gilles Diederichs, My Anti-Stress Year: 52 Weeks of Soothing Activities and Wellness Advice, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:
camomile tea; mint tea
(in-compounds, uncountable) Any drink which is similar to Camellia sinensis tea in some way: ▸ Meat stock served as a hot drink.
beef tea
(Commonwealth, Northern-US, countable) A cup of any of these drinks, often with milk, sugar, lemon, or tapioca pearls.
We'd like one tea and one coffee, please.
(Southern-US, countable, qualifier:East Asia, uncountable) A glass of these drinks.
(UK, uncountable) A light midafternoon meal, typically but not necessarily including tea.
I won't make it to the breakfast event, but I'll see you at the tea.
Tea was a very special institution, revolving as it did around the ceremony and worship of Toast. In a place [public schools] where alcohol, tobacco and drugs were forbidden, it was essential that something should take their place as a powerful and public totem of virility and cool. Toast, for reasons lost in time, was the substance chosen. 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 16:
But the gorge of the Rush was not at all a nice place for travelling either. I mean, it was not a nice place for people in a hurry. For an afternoon's ramble ending in a picnic tea it would have been delightful. 1951, C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia:
(Commonwealth, Ireland, uncountable) Synonym of supper, the main evening meal, whether or not it includes the drink tea.
Jacki set about making the tea—bacon grills with chips and bread and butter. 2018, Ray Wyre, Tim Tate, The Murder of Childhood, page 126:
The family were sitting round the table, eating their tea.
Breakfast was composed of a meal which reminded me of a linseed poultice; for dinner there were potatoes boiled in their jackets with beef saltier than the ocean itself. [...] Tea was something like breakfast. 1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 38:
(countable, uncountable) The break in play between the second and third sessions.
As recently as the mid-80s the players would be given a bottle of beer at lunchtime at some county grounds, and "tea" still meant a cup of tea into the 90s. 2009, “What do cricketers eat at tea? When is it safe to flush on the train? What's a plujit?”, Notes and queries: Life and style, in The Guardian:
Australia were 490 for 7 at tea on the second day.
(countable, dated, slang, uncountable) Synonym of marijuana.
Jive music and tea were the two most important components of the hipster's life. 1948 June, Anatole Broyard, “A Portrait of the Hipster”, in Partisan Review:
Here in Texas possession of tea is a felony calling for 2 years. 1947 March 11, William Burroughs, letter
Seeing that we didn’t know anything about ourselves, he whipped out three sticks of tea and said to go ahead, supper’d be ready soon. 1957 September 5, Jack Kerouac, On the Road, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →OCLC:
So they were evidence. Evidence of what? That a man occasionally smoked a stick of tea, a man who looked as if any touch of the exotic would appeal to him. On the other hand lots of tough guys smoked marijuana […]. 1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, page 103:
Tea puts a musician in a real masterly sphere, and that's why so many jazzmen have used it. 1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Them First Kicks are a Killer”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 2 (1923–1928: Chicago, Chicago), page 74:
(countable, qualifier:especially gay slang and African-American Vernacular, slang, uncountable) Information, especially gossip.
"What's the tea on you and China? Where she at Alicia? You should know where ya baby at." 2015, Sonya Shuman, Doors of the Church Are Open: Smoke & Mirrors by Sonya Shuman:
Spill the tea on that drama, hon.
Now I've told you that I've taken LSD, and you think I'm gonna leap through a window or something like that. And you know why that is, that's because of Art Linkletter's daughter.... But let me give you the tea on her, see, she took LSD, realized she was Art Linkletter's daughter, and threw herself out of the window! 1992, Lea DeLaria, “Ms. DeLaria's Dating Tips for Dykes”, in Bulldyke in a China Shop (spoken-word comedy album):
For those looking for tea on someone, one of the first places you should look is their Venmo account. ... Though most people have found out how to make all of their transactions private, preventing snooping eyes from seeing how many times they've gone out for brunch in the last month, JD Vance hasn't seemed to figure that out yet. 2024 July 23, Sara Belcher, “JD Vance's Public Venmo Will Make You Want to Private Yours”, in Distractify:
fo temunnur (cup of this drink) · kum чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tr çay (dried leaves of tea plant) · ja お茶 (cup of drink made from other plants) · ka ჩაი (dried leaves of tea plant) · nl thee (dried leaves of tea plant) · th น้ำชา (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pt folha de chá (dried leaves of tea plant) · ro ceai (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · so shaah (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · or ଚା (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bn চা (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · br te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta சிற்றுண்டி (light afternoon meal) · ary تاي (dried leaves of tea plant) · zau ཇ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sl čaj (cup of drink made from other plants) · szl tyj (dried leaves of tea plant) · pcc xaz (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mns-nor ся̄й (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fy tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vo tied (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ota چای (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · wo warga (dried leaves of tea plant) · dsb čaj (dried leaves of tea plant) · dz ཇ (dried leaves of tea plant) · ja 出花 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cjm caiy (dried leaves of tea plant) · fi tee (dried leaves of tea plant) · ik saayu (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · prs چَای (dried leaves of tea plant) · fo temuður (cup of this drink) · nb te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta தேத்தண்ணீர் (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kok ಚ್ಯಾ (dried leaves of tea plant) · slr saluq (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ro ceai (dried leaves of tea plant) · te తేయాకు (dried leaves of tea plant) · wuu 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fo te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · crh çay (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ur چائے (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ro ceai (drink made from other plants) · abq чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta டீ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mfe dite (dried leaves of tea plant) · sl čaj (drink made from other plants) · ml ചായ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · gl té (dried leaves of tea plant) · fi teenlehdet (dried leaves of tea plant) · rm tè (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cs čaj (cup of this drink) · pnb چاء (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tzm ⴰⵜⴰⵢ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ast fervinchu (drink made from other plants) · gu ચા (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ary أتاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kn ಚಹಾ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · acw شاهي (dried leaves of tea plant) · smn teejâ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mnc ᠴᠠᡳ (dried leaves of tea plant) · hi चाय (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nv chʼil ahwééh (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kok च्या (dried leaves of tea plant) · tl saa (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kjh чей (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · de Tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta தேநீர் (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ja ティー (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · te తేనీరు (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · be гарба́та (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · yi טיי (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ko 찻잎 (dried leaves of tea plant) · ta தேயிலை (dried leaves of tea plant) · lut tiac (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · shi ⴰⵜⴰⵢ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ug چاي (dried leaves of tea plant) · nod ᨶ᩶ᩣᩴᨪᩣ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ckb چای (drink made from other plants) · ja 上がり花 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sk olovrant (light afternoon meal) · lv tēja (drink made from other plants) · za caz (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · syl ꠌꠣꠅꠞ ꠙꠣꠔ꠆ꠔꠣ (dried leaves of tea plant) · wa té (dried leaves of tea plant) · as চাহ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · izh caju (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta ஒரு குவளை தேநீர் (cup of this drink) · osa hpéže mąhká (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ro ceai (cup of drink made from other plants) · cmn 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ru чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · lg caayi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ar شَاي (dried leaves of tea plant) · ch cha (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nv chʼil ahwééh (dried leaves of tea plant) · ast té (dried leaves of tea plant) · mr चहा (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kmr ça (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ru ча́шка ча́я (cup of drink made from other plants) · fj te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fa-ira چای (dried leaves of tea plant) · is te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tzm ⴰⵜⴰⵢ (dried leaves of tea plant) · km ស្លឹកតែ (dried leaves of tea plant) · smn čee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · uk ча́шка ча́ю (cup of this drink) · sn tii (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · it tisana (drink made from other plants) · af koppie tee (cup of this drink) · lb Téi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bew sahi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bg ча́ша чай (cup of this drink) · yrl xaa (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · eu te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tl tsaa (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sa चाय (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vi chè (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mnp 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ckb چا (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · su ᮈᮔ᮪ᮒᮦᮂ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · gl té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · es té (drink made from other plants) · sv kopp te (cup of this drink) · khb ᦋᦱ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hi चायपत्ती (dried leaves of tea plant) · khb ᦌᦱᧉ (dried leaves of tea plant) · pt xícara de chá (cup of this drink) · cy (dail) te (dried leaves of tea plant) · af tee (drink made from other plants) · am ሻይ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fa-ira چای (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · da te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · rsk тея (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ckb چای (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vro tii (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · it tè (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · am ሻይ (dried leaves of tea plant) · kmr çay (cup of this drink) · tyv шай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bxd faʔ⁵⁵ kʰjɛʔ⁵⁵ (dried leaves of tea plant) · nb formiddagste (light afternoon meal) · uk полу́денок (light afternoon meal) · shn ၼဵင်ႈႁႅင်ႈ (dried leaves of tea plant) · az çay (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fi kuppi teetä (cup of this drink) · csb arbata (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mk чај (dried leaves of tea plant) · lt arbata (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pl podwieczorek (light afternoon meal) · qu tiy (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ar شَاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kbd шай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kaa chay (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · yo tíì (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ja 茶 (cup of drink made from other plants) · lo ນ້ຳຊາ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · izh caaju (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ko 차 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pa ਚਾਹ (dried leaves of tea plant) · ja 上がり (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · lt arbata (cup of this drink) · gv tey (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · dmw diyi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · he ספל תה (cup of this drink) · alw šáayit (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ko 차 한 잔 (cup of this drink) · hu uzsonna (light afternoon meal) · km តែ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vi lá trà (dried leaves of tea plant) · fo te (dried leaves of tea plant) · ja 茶葉 (dried leaves of tea plant) · de Tee (drink made from other plants) · aeb تَاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sk čaj (dried leaves of tea plant) · es onces (light afternoon meal) · sv te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · de Teeblätter (dried leaves of tea plant) · ems cayuq (dried leaves of tea plant) · fi välipala (light afternoon meal) · ady щайуц (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nb ettermiddagste (light afternoon meal) · ru ча́шка ча́ю (cup of drink made from other plants) · vi lá chè (dried leaves of tea plant) · el τσάι (dried leaves of tea plant) · si තේ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · udm чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ja お茶 (light afternoon meal) · khb ᦋᦱ (dried leaves of tea plant) · da te (dried leaves of tea plant) · da kop te (cup of this drink) · bg отва́ра (drink made from other plants) · ga tae (cup of this drink) · acw شاهي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ny tiyi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · my လက်ဖက် (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · de Kaffee (light afternoon meal) · oj aniibiishaaboo (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · la decoctum (drink made from other plants) · ain チャー (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · oj aniibiishan (dried leaves of tea plant) · cdo 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · osa hpéženíi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · myv цяй (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ik saigu (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nrf thée (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hak 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hsb čaj (dried leaves of tea plant) · rhg saá (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · he תֵּה (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mn цай (dried leaves of tea plant) · cs čaj (cup of drink made from other plants) · es hoja de té (dried leaves of tea plant) · ks چائ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sip ཇ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sv fika (light afternoon meal) · cy paned (cup of this drink) · xmf ჩაი (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · haw kī (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ba сәй (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ckb چا (dried leaves of tea plant) · cy te (light afternoon meal) · tt чәй (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · lv tēja fS (dried leaves of tea plant) · pap té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · gag çay (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · id teh (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · st tee (dried leaves of tea plant) · ne चिया (dried leaves of tea plant) · eo teo (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sah чэй (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ik tii (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · uk полу́день (light afternoon meal) · ary تاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · it tè (cup of this drink) · ar شَاي (drink made from other plants) · sat ᱪᱟ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ast té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · gd tì (dried leaves of tea plant) · so shaah (dried leaves of tea plant) · pl filiżanka herbaty (cup of this drink) · ur چائے (dried leaves of tea plant) · ltg čajs (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hy թեյ (cup of this drink) · ce чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tl tsa (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · he ספל תה צמחים (cup of drink made from other plants) · fi iltapäiväkahvit (light afternoon meal) · cmn 茶水 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · alt чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pa چاہ (dried leaves of tea plant) · cdo 茶 (dried leaves of tea plant) · inh чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · atv цай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · es cha (drink made from other plants) · cv чей (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bew té (dried leaves of tea plant) · ckb چا (drink made from other plants) · nb te (dried leaves of tea plant) · sgs erbeta (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · st ditee (dried leaves of tea plant) · kmr piyaleyeke çayê (cup of this drink) · lad גאיי (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vi chén trà (cup of this drink) · sat ᱪᱚ (dried leaves of tea plant) · tew tây (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pnb چاہ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ady щай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · szl tyj (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · or ଚା (dried leaves of tea plant) · bew té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · es té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hy թեյ (dried leaves of tea plant) · nb te (cup of this drink) · hu tea (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · oc tè (dried leaves of tea plant) · fi tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sh ча̏ј (dried leaves of tea plant) · kk шай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · se deadja (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cy te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · wym tyy (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ms teh (dried leaves of tea plant) · kw te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nv dééh (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · koi чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cs šálek čaje (cup of drink made from other plants) · kok ച്യാ (dried leaves of tea plant) · rw icyayi (dried leaves of tea plant) · cy dysgled (cup of this drink) · la thea (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ps چاى (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pt infusão (drink made from other plants) · mk чај (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mnc ᠴᠠᡳ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kmr çay (dried leaves of tea plant) · de Teeblatt (dried leaves of tea plant) · nb te (cup of drink made from other plants) · uk чай (dried leaves of tea plant) · es cha (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · rm té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kim цай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hsb čaj (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · wa té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · iu ᑏ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ban téh (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cjy 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ja お茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sms čee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kmr çay (cup of drink made from other plants) · ht te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · esu caayuq (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mic p'tewei (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nrf thée (dried leaves of tea plant) · khb ᦓᧄᧉᦋᦱ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · oc tè (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · khb ᦓᧄᧉᦌᦱᧉ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sat ᱪᱚ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · shu شاهي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · th ชาถ้วยหนึ่ง (cup of this drink) · fi yrttitee (cup of drink made from other plants) · dng ца (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · arc ܟ̰ܵܝ (dried leaves of tea plant) · rsk тея (dried leaves of tea plant) · io teo (dried leaves of tea plant) · nb te (drink made from other plants) · qu q’uñi yaku (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · niv чай (dried leaves of tea plant) · dv ސައި (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hy թեյ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vep čai (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nn te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · wyi murrandu (dried leaves of tea plant) · tk çaý (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ar فِنْجَان شَاي (cup of this drink) · ug چاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kok ಚಾ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ja 茶 (drink made from other plants) · fr thé (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fi kahvit (light afternoon meal) · mdf чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ha shayi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cs čaj (dried leaves of tea plant) · cjs шай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mrw sa (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vi chén chè (cup of this drink) · mn ᠴᠠᠢ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · dsb tej (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pl herbata (cup of drink made from other plants) · sk čaj (drink made from other plants) · ja お茶一杯 (cup of this drink) · de Jause (light afternoon meal) · cir tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · he תה צמחים (drink made from other plants) · vro tsäi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ms teh (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · rom drab (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ru ча́шка ча́ю (cup of this drink) · da te (drink made from other plants) · tab чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ale chaayuх̑ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · da the (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta நீர் (drink made from other plants) · bxd faʔ⁵⁵ kʰjɛʔ⁵⁵ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cmn 茶 (dried leaves of tea plant) · id ca (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kmr ça (dried leaves of tea plant) · th ใบชา (dried leaves of tea plant) · rue чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mk чај (drink made from other plants) · th ชาหนึ่งถ้วย (cup of this drink) · hif cha (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · nn te (dried leaves of tea plant) · bg чай (dried leaves of tea plant) · ps چی (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mfe dite (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ik chaiyu (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bua сай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · lo ຊາ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · af tee (dried leaves of tea plant) · xal цә (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · dz ཇ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mt te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kok ചാ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ko 차 (dried leaves of tea plant) · vi chè (dried leaves of tea plant) · kok चा (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · hu tea (drink made from other plants) · sh čȁj (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ajp شاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · uvl ti (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · zu itiye (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mr चहा (dried leaves of tea plant) · ro ceai (cup of this drink) · la thea (dried leaves of tea plant) · ka ჩაი (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ga tae (light afternoon meal) · yue 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fi tee (cup of this drink) · gd teatha (dried leaves of tea plant) · wyi yalgi (dried leaves of tea plant) · tli chááyu (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · lez чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · lv tēja (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · rsk чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · gd tì (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ps چاي (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · xh iti (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · bg чай (light afternoon meal) · st tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · uk чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ko 다엽 (dried leaves of tea plant) · bo ཇ (dried leaves of tea plant) · kmr çay (drink made from other plants) · pam cha (dried leaves of tea plant) · id teh (dried leaves of tea plant) · apj dééh (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cy trwyth (drink made from other plants) · lo ຊາ (dried leaves of tea plant) · ii ꆿꒉ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · syl ꠌꠣꠢ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · th ชา (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ain ウセイ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tn tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fo te (drink made from other plants) · krc шай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · cs čaj (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tsg tī (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · es lonche (light afternoon meal) · lv tēja (light afternoon meal) · sk čaj (cup of this drink) · mg dite (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ms ca (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pdt Tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · as চাহ পাত (dried leaves of tea plant) · vi nước chè (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mi tī (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pt chá (cup of drink made from other plants) · cs šálek čaje (cup of this drink) · my လ္ဘက် (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tli cháayu (dried leaves of tea plant) · kls čay (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · pa ਚਾਹ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sh čȁj (dried leaves of tea plant) · nb te (light afternoon meal) · kjh чай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sv infusion (drink made from other plants) · oj aniibiish (dried leaves of tea plant) · te టీ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fo tedussur (cup of this drink) · kn ಚಹಾ (dried leaves of tea plant) · fi yrttitee (drink made from other plants) · my လက်ဖက်ရည် (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sw chai (dried leaves of tea plant) · mn ᠴᠠᠢ (dried leaves of tea plant) · cjm caiy (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · gan 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · uk чай (drink made from other plants) · kmr çaya biharatan (cup of drink made from other plants) · cmn 茶葉 /茶叶 (dried leaves of tea plant) · rm te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · fi teekupillinen (cup of this drink) · fi tee (drink made from other plants) · yoi サー (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · mi tī (dried leaves of tea plant) · ba сәй (dried leaves of tea plant) · hsn 茶 (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ru чай (dried leaves of tea plant) · nod ᨪᩣ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ik saiyu (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · th ชา (dried leaves of tea plant) · bol shayi (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ajp شاي (dried leaves of tea plant) · is te (dried leaves of tea plant) · pt chá da tarde (light afternoon meal) · ca te (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · shi ⴰⵜⴰⵢ (dried leaves of tea plant) · de Tee (dried leaves of tea plant) · dsb čaj (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · es merienda (light afternoon meal) · kl tii (dried leaves of tea plant) · lad chay (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ru ча́шка ча́я (cup of this drink) · sw chai (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ta தேநீர் (drink made from other plants) · sl čaj (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · kn ಟೀ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tyv цай (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · shu شاهي (dried leaves of tea plant) · pms té (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ja おやつ (light afternoon meal) · scn te (dried leaves of tea plant) · af tee (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · dng ца (dried leaves of tea plant) · tg чой (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · ain チャ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · tl tsaa (dried leaves of tea plant) · bo ཇ (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · vi trà (drink made from leaves of tea plant) · sl čaj (dried leaves of tea plant)
First appears c. 1655, in the English translation Álvaro Semedo’s writings. From Dutch thee, from Hokkien 茶 (tê) (Amoy dialect), from Old Chinese, ultimately from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-la (“leaf, tea”). Introduced to English and other Western European languages by the Dutch East India Company, who sourced their tea in Amoy; compare Malay teh along the same trade route. Doublet of chai and cha (and, distantly, the first element of lahpet), from same Proto-Sino-Tibetan root; see discussion of cognates.
Cognates
The word for “tea” in many languages is of Sinitic origin (due to China being the origin of the plant), and thus there are many cognates; see translations. These are from one of two proximate sources, reflected in the phonological shape: forms with a stop (e.g. /t/) are derived from Min Nan tê, while forms with an affricate (e.g. /tʃ/) are derived from other Sinitic languages, like Mandarin chá or Cantonese caa4 (all written as 茶). Different languages borrowed one or the other form (specific language and point in time varied), reflecting trade ties, generally Min Nan tê if by ocean trade from Fujian, Cantonese caa4 if by ocean trade from Guangdong, or northern Chinese chá if by overland trade or by ocean trade from India.
Thus Western and Northern European languages borrowed tê (with the exception of Portuguese, which uses chá; despite being by ocean trade, their source was in Macao, not Amoy), while chá borrowings are used over a very large geographical area of Eurasia and Africa: Southern and Eastern Europe, and on through Turkish, Arabic, North and East Africa, Persian, Central Asian, and Indic languages. In Europe the tê/chá line is Italian/Slovene, Hungarian/Romanian, German/Czech, Polish/Ukrainian, Baltics/Russian, Finnish/Karelian, Northern Sami/Inari Sami. tê was also borrowed in European trade stops in Southern India and coastal Africa, though chá borrowings are otherwise more prevalent in these regions, via Arabic or Indic, due to earlier trade. The situation in Southeast Asia is complex due to multiple influences, and some languages borrowed both forms, such as Malay teh and ca.
Etymology 1, noun sense 12 (“information, especially gossip”) may be originally from T standing for truth, which evolved into tea. An alternative explanation dates back to gay African-American culture in the 1970s and alludes to women gossiping over afternoon tea.
Meanings
(intransitive) To drink tea.
I dined yesterday at | three on mutton chops and 1/2 pint of E[ast] I [ndian] sherry, and then tead and muffined' at 8. 1837, Benjamin Disraeli, Benjamin Disraeli Letters: 1835-1837, Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press, published 1982, →ISBN, page 319:
We coffeed and tead and smoked a trench torch with Grand Master Browning, and cranked our Cadillac for another station. 1921, Desmos of Delta Sigma Delta, page 41:
We tea’d with May, and had to wait over an hour for a taxi! 1916 March 28, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, “Elizabeth”, in William Shawcross, editor, Counting One’s Blessings: The Selected Letters of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, New York, N.Y.: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, published 2012, page 32:
(intransitive) To take afternoon tea (a light meal).
The wind was high and the hills ditto, and both being against us we were late in reaching Hitchin (30 from Cambridge), so giving up the idea of reaching Oxford we toiled on through Luton, on to Dunstable (47), where we teaed moderately […] 1877, The Bicycling Times and Tourist's Gazette, page 38:
(transitive) To give tea to.
This gentleman was presented by Colonel C. E. S. Wood, and was entertained here—wined, dined, tead, breakfasted, coffeed and luncheoned—and we bought his pictures. 1909, The Public, page 109:
After I’d tea’d everyone and Oz had breakfasted them,[…] 2019, Jordaina Sydney Robinson, Dead Completely (Afterlife Adventures Series):
And they’ve got Professor Hummums with ’em, the great Everlasting Star of the Nineteenth Century, which he has breakfasted and dined and tea’d and supped here ever since yesterday. 1858, Benedict Cruiser, “Of the Agonising Process by which that which was once a Bower of Bliss was converted into a Cave of Despair”, in George Augustus Sala, editor, How I Tamed Mrs. Cruiser, London: James Blackwood, page 129:
But one or two evil-disposed characters muttered they might be sure the lady had her own turn to serve, and they might be sure they wasn't "teaed and muffined and sandwiched for nothing!" 1866, Emma Jane Worboise, “The St. Beetha’s Temperance Society”, in St. Beetha’s; or, The Heiress of Arne, London: “Christian World” Office, […]; Jackson, Walford, and Hodder, […], →OCLC, page 213:
In half an hour they had all been tea’d and coffeed and refreshed by the nurses, and shortly after were all undressed and put to bed clean and comfortable, and in a droll state of grateful wonder; 1863, chapter I, in Hospital Transports. A Memoir of the Embarkation of the Sick and Wounded from the Peninsula of Virginia in the Summer of 1862., Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, page 25: