Phrase guide

coffee table book

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒfi ˌteɪbəl ˈbʊk/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈkɔfi ˌteɪbəl ˈbʊk/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A large book, usually with lavish illustrations, typically displayed on a coffee table.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

] So called because it might be displayed on a coffee table in a person’s home.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: كتب طاولة القهوة — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Chinese Mandarin: 大型畫冊 /大型画册 (dàxíng huàcè) — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Dutch: koffietafelboek — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Finnish: kahvipöytäkirja — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • French: beau-livre — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • French: beau livre — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • German: Coffee Table Book — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Hebrew: ספר מתנה — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Irish: leabhar bord íseal — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Irish: leabhar tábla caife — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Malay: buku mewah — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Polish: ozdobna książka do przeglądania — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Portuguese: edição de mesa — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Tamil: பெரிதாக்கப்பட்ட காபி மேஜை புத்தகம் (peritākkappaṭṭa kāpi mējai puttakam) — large book typically displayed on a coffee table
  • Thai: หนังสือโต๊ะกาแฟ (nǎng-sʉ̌ʉ-dtó-gaa-fɛɛ) — large book typically displayed on a coffee table