Food & Drinks

1. القائمة لو سمحت

   El-ʾāʾime law samaḥt

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Used to ask for the menu in a restaurant.

   Grammar Note

   "El-" is the article. "Law samaḥt" is the usual way to ask politely.

2. الحساب لو سمحت

   El-ḥsāb law samaḥt

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Used to ask for the check at the end of a meal.

   Grammar Note

   "Ḥsāb" comes from the root for counting and means the bill.

3. مي لو سمحت

   Mayy law samaḥt

   Water, please

   Usage

   Used to ask for water. Do not confuse with "mayye" (ميّة), which is the number 100.

   Grammar Note

   "Mayy" is the colloquial form of Standard "māʾ".

4. قهوة تركية لو سمحت

   ʾAhwe turkiyye law samaḥt

   Turkish coffee, please

   Usage

   The classic strong boiled coffee of the Levant; say how much sugar you want when ordering. Composed from verified words.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective follows the noun and agrees with feminine "ʾahwe". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

5. أنا نباتي

   Ana nabāti

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   Said by a man. A woman says "ana nabātiyye".

   Grammar Note

   No verb "to be" is needed: the adjective is the predicate.

6. عندي حساسية من المكسرات

   ʿIndi ḥassāsiyye men el-mukassarāt

   I have a nut allergy

   Usage

   Swap "el-mukassarāt" for another ingredient to adapt it. Avoid bare "fustuʾ": it can mean pistachio or peanut.

   Grammar Note

   "ʿind" + "-i" expresses "I have". "Mukassarāt" is a Standard-leaning word that is also understood in the Levant.

7. بدون حار لو سمحت

   Bidūn ḥārr law samaḥt

   Not spicy, please

   Usage

   For people who cannot eat spicy food. Composed from verified words.

   Grammar Note

   "Bidūn" + noun means "without". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

8. هاد لذيذ كتير

   Hāda ladīd ktīr

   This is very tasty

   Usage

   A compliment for food. In speech "ṭayyeb" is also commonly used for tasty.

   Grammar Note

   "Hāda" is the masculine "this". "Ktīr" follows the adjective to intensify it.

9. الخدمة محسوبة؟

   El-khidme maḥsūbe?

   Is service included?

   Usage

   To check whether a service charge is already counted. Composed from verified words.

   Grammar Note

   Rising intonation alone makes it a question. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

10. بدي طاولة لشخصين

    Biddi ṭāwle la-shakhṣēn

    I would like a table for two

    Usage

    Used on entering a restaurant to ask for a table.

    Grammar Note

    "Biddi" means "I want". "-ēn" is the dual ending.

11. شو بتنصحني؟

    Shū btinṣaḥni?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Asking a waiter for a recommendation. Composed from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    Verb with the "b-" prefix and object "-ni" (me). Composed from dictionary-verified words.

12. رز

    Ruzz

    Rice

    Usage

    Said while pointing at the dish in an eatery.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial form of Standard "ʾaruzz", without the initial vowel.

13. خبز

    Khubz

    Bread

    Usage

    In the Levant this is usually flat bread (pita).

    Grammar Note

    A collective noun; "khubz" alone is normally enough.

14. معكرونة

    Maʿkarōne

    Pasta

    Usage

    Covers pasta in general.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from Italian.

15. حار

    Ḥārr

    Spicy

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the dish. The same word also means hot in temperature.

    Grammar Note

    With a feminine noun it becomes "ḥārra".

16. حلو

    Ḥelu

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describes taste; in speech it also means nice or pretty.

    Grammar Note

    With a feminine noun it becomes "ḥelwe".

17. ني

    Nayy

    Raw

    Usage

    Shown to avoid raw meat or to say something is undercooked. Listed for South Levantine; the Damascene pronunciation is unconfirmed.

    Grammar Note

    With a feminine noun it becomes "niyye".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages