Borrowed words often perplex native speakers. In what kind to use them, is it possible to change by number and cases? Standing apart is “coffee,” which for three centuries has resisted Russian-language grammar. Against this background, countless varieties of an invigorating drink have been lost, and many citizens are still not sure whether the cappuccino is “he” or “it”? What if she’s ?!
Word migration
Within one culture, it is impossible to give names to all objects in the world. Some terms seem more cumbersome compared to foreign counterparts, others cannot give a complete picture of a thing, and sometimes there is simply no suitable definition in a language. Ask your grandmother as much as you like: "Cappuccino - is he or it?" How to spell a mysterious word? Most likely, she doesn’t know, because she hears it for the first time and associates it with some Italian composer.
As you borrow, proper names are untied from specific brands and converted into common nouns. They can adapt to the requirements of their "new" language or experience a serious delay in morphological adaptation. That is, do not accept the new rules!
Gift from Italy
And if you look at the homeland of an amazing coffee drink with a fluffy hat of milk foam? The land of the most passionate people in the world will unequivocally indicate: it or he! Cappuccino due to the end of "-o" corresponds to the masculine gender. Hot and aromatic coffee will transfer your consciousness into a world of bliss.
However, the dictionaries of the Russian language of the latest editions allow the use of the word in the middle gender. Why? The structure of the language, age-old laws literally force citizens to subconsciously use it that way. A similar situation with a possible “sex change” has developed in other cooking methods:
Only for American dictionaries have not yet fixed any norm. Or are there options?
international experience
Now you know that everything is right for a cappuccino: “he” or “it”. Put in any kind and you will not be mistaken! Or you can focus on the implied word "coffee." After all, all the exotic items on the barista's menu are methods of grinding beans for brewing and decoration according to certain rules of the same drink. Although there are nuances. Indeed, in the languages from which the concept was borrowed, it was masculine:
- Italian cafe
- Dutch koffie;
- Arabic gahva and many others.
And Russian grammar identified the word as something inanimate. Moreover, there was a strict association with “drinking” and “drinking”. A situation similar to a cappuccino: “it” or “he” - could not be determined right away. Both forms were equal even from the 17th century, but at some point the intelligentsia rebelled, and the name of coffee in the masculine gender was considered a sign of an educated person. This demonstrated that the speaker is aware of the origin of the term and follows all the rules.
Closer to 2010, the situation changed, and the dictionaries made the option with “it” as conversational acceptable. That is, now you are not making a mistake, regardless of the choice.
At the household level
What is the result? Cappuccino is “he”! Or "it," as you wish. Feel free to place an order in any way:
- One cup of cappuccino.
- One cappuccino.
- One cappuccino.
Linguists will not have the slightest claim to you. However, to this day there are people who are intolerant of new trends. They believe that in most situations it will be appropriate to turn to the male gender. And it’s easy to justify a chain of interrelated and dependent terms:
- cappuccino - “he” in Italian;
- it is coffee - and therefore also “he”;
- the drink is always courageous.
You can get around the embarrassing situation in the plural and order only a few at a time. Two or three cappuccino coffees are identical for “he” and “it”. Want more? No problem, come to the rescue:
In this case, the question (“Bring what?”) Is asked to the vessel, and the gender of the numerals with the pronouns is related to the gender of the capacity itself. It is very convenient if you can’t remember the rules or are embarrassed by others:
- Fill one glass of Americano.
- Bring a cup of espresso.
- I have a large portion of latte, and my friend a small (portion) of glace.
A little trick, but how makes life easier!
Talk and enjoy
It doesn’t matter whether “he” is a cappuccino or “it”, as long as the taste gives pleasure! Focus on the interlocutors, follow your own ideas about the correct pronunciation. Any of the options is true, and if someone does not like it, then he does not know how to enjoy life. Perhaps you should share a cup of coffee with him to cheer you up?