cuppa

IPA/ˈkʌpə/
IPA/ˈkʌpə/

cuppa — noun

  • cuppasingular
  • cuppasplural

1. a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto dried tea leaves, served in a sma

1.nounB1
Definition

a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto dried tea leaves, served in a small cup — used in informal British English to refer to this drink, especially when offering or requesting one in a casual setting

Example

Diego offered me a cuppa when I arrived, cold from the rain.

collocation: offered me a cuppa

After the long walk, Hana said she was desperate for a hot cuppa.

collocation: desperate for a cuppa

Common collocations
  • fancy a cuppa
  • make a cuppa
  • put the kettle on for a cuppa
  • have a cuppa
  • cuppa tea
  • need a cuppa
  • hot cuppa
Synonyms
  • tea

    neutral and widely used; cuppa is the informal British equivalent

  • brew

    informal British term, similar register to cuppa but can also refer to any hot drink made by steeping

Grammar Patterns

fancy a cuppa

make a cuppa

have a cuppa

Usage Note

Only used in informal British English, common in spoken conversation and casual writing such as texts or emails to friends. Not appropriate for formal or academic writing. The word already contains the idea of tea, so 'fancy a cuppa?' is preferred over 'fancy a cuppa tea?', though 'cuppa tea' is also heard in very casual speech.

Common Mistakes

The conference will provide a cuppa for attendees.
The conference will provide tea for attendees.
cuppa is too informal for business or formal settings.
Could I have a cuppa coffee?
Could I have a cuppa?
cuppa refers specifically to tea, not any hot drink.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Tea is the neutral, standard term for the drink made from dried leaves — appropriate in any context from formal to casual. Brew is an informal British noun that can mean a cup of tea or occasionally coffee, but it focuses on the act of steeping or the resulting drink; someone might say 'I'll make a fresh brew.' Cuppa is the most informal of the three, strongly associated with friendly offers and everyday conversation: 'Fancy a cuppa?' carries a warm, welcoming tone that 'Would you like a cup of tea?' lacks. While tea covers the entire concept (leaves, drink, meal), cuppa is confined to the single serving in a mug or cup. Use cuppa among friends and family; use tea everywhere else.

tea ↗brew ↗cuppa ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • fancy a cuppa
  • make a cuppa
  • put the kettle on
  • have a cuppa
  • need a cuppa
  • cuppa tea

Etymology

English

Cuppa is an informal British shortening of 'cup of tea'. In rapid colloquial speech, the phrase 'cup of tea' was reduced to 'cuppa tea', and by the early 20th century 'cuppa' came to be used on its own as a noun meaning a serving of tea.