Etymology

Probably a borrowing from Turkish kafa ‎(“head”), from Arabic قَفَاء ‎(qafāʾ, “head”). Alternatively from older *klafë, from Proto-Indo-European *glēb(h)- 'conglobate'. Cf. Romanian ceafă. Compare also Old Norse klafi ‎(“neck yoke, packsaddle”), Middle Low German klave ‎(“neck yoke”), Old English clyppan ‎(“hug, embrace, hold tight”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈcafə/, [t͡ɕaːf]