Tea, Tea or The: How is it Written?

A Thousand Variations, but Not All Are Correct: Tea, Tè, or The? Let's Find Out How to Spell it in Italian!

We all drink it, but few know how to correctly spell the name of this beloved aromatic beverage in Italian: tè, the, tea, or te? Let's see what the dictionaries and the Accademia della Crusca say and clarify the correct spelling of this word.

Is it tè... or the? We are all familiar with this widely consumed beverage and its benefits, obtained from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis (from the Theaceae family) and originating from China, although now loved all over the world, and we all know how to pronounce it. But how do you spell it? Especially if you are a globetrotter and have visited bars and tea rooms around the world, you might be confused about the correct word, as you may have found it in different variations: let's clarify things then, and to do so, let's rely on the use of the best dictionaries and don't forget to visit our online tea shop!

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Tè, Thè, or Tea? Linguistic Differences

There are many existing denominations: te, the, tè, tea, te, and all refer to the aromatic beverage obtained from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, but are they all correct? The answer is no... or not quite.

First of all, it is good to establish that the word "te" refers, in Italian, to the singular masculine and feminine tonic pronoun, used as a direct or indirect object. The tonic forms, or strong forms, like te, are used to emphasize the pronoun, especially the pronoun te refers to the second person singular "you". Sometimes, especially in some regions of Italy, te is also used as a colloquial form of "you". Nothing to do with the beverage of white, black, or green type!

The correct form in Italian to refer to the infusion that can be drunk hot or cold is tè. Tè, with the grave tonic accent on the e, indicates the beverage prepared from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, and can also be used to refer to the plant (for example, the cultivation of tea).

Let's also consult the Treccani Encyclopedia for a more detailed explanation of the etymology:

 

Tea and tè are therefore homophones, but they refer to two different things. White tea, black tea, green tea, and oolong tea: the accent must always be used if you want to write correctly (in Italian) the name of this beverage with a thousand properties!

Tea or Tè: Less Common, but Almost Correct (as stated by Treccani and the Accademia della Crusca!)

You might be wondering: "If the correct form is tè, why do we often read the forms the and thè?" Both the Treccani and the Accademia della Crusca mention these two versions as variations of the word tè. So is it tea or tè? Both agree that the versions the and thè are acceptable but less used, and that the form to be used is tè.

Here's what the Accademia della Crusca says:

 

The Italian word tè probably derives from the French form thé (from which it takes the grave accent) or from the Chinese t'e. The variants the and thè are most likely derived from the French form, as suggested by Treccani:

 

And the De Mauro Dictionary:

 

There are different schools of thought on this, but in general dictionaries and encyclopedias tend to agree that the use of "tè" is the most correct and widespread form in Italian spelling, while other forms are seen as variations that are not necessarily incorrect, since it is a word derived from another language and therefore translated, but less preferable as it is a mix of other foreign versions. And Tea in English? Much rarer is to hear about "tea" in Italian, although Tea Rooms are becoming more popular in Italy, offering the typical five o'clock tea, and many types of tea, such as Ceylon Tea or Earl Grey Tea, are also known in Italy by this name. In reality, "tea" is the English name for "tè," so it does not represent correct Italian spelling, while in English "the" is the generic definite article. Still confused? Let's recap and clarify once and for all: - "Te": tonic pronoun for singular masculine and feminine - "Tè": Italian spelling to indicate the aromatic beverage - "The" and "thè": versions not preferred but not considered incorrect - "Thé": French name - "Tea": English name Are you a big tea enthusiast? Visit our Online Tea Shop! We have selected over 700 top-quality products chosen from dozens of producers around the world. Terza Luna is the reference point for all tea, herbs, and spices enthusiasts. Recent from the Blog: - The Tea Ceremony - Camellia Sinensis: The Tea Plant - Matcha Tea Ceremony - Spirulina: What It Is, Properties, and Uses