Café & Drinks

1. أريد شاياً من فضلك

   Urīdu shāyan min faḍlak

   I would like tea, please

   Usage

   Basic phrase for ordering tea at a café or accepting tea offered by a host

   Grammar Note

   "Shay" is the most beloved drink in the Arab world. "Shay bil-na'na'" (mint tea) and cinnamon tea are popular. Expect it served very sweet in most countries

2. قهوة عربية من فضلك

   Qahwa ʿarabiyya min faḍlak

   Arabic coffee, please

   Usage

   Used to order Arabic coffee (flavored with cardamom) at Gulf cafés, hotels, or when a host offers hospitality

   Grammar Note

   "Qahwa 'arabiyya" is a light golden coffee spiced with cardamom. Distinct from "qahwa turkiyya" (Turkish coffee). To decline a refill, say "bas" (enough) while tilting the cup

3. ماء بارد من فضلك

   Māʾ bārid min faḍlak

   Cold water, please

   Usage

   Essential in the hot desert climate of Arab countries. Used at restaurants, cafés, and street stalls

   Grammar Note

   Contrasts with "ma' sakhin" (hot water) and "ma' bi-daraghat al-ghurfa" (room temperature water). Bottled water is "ma' mu'abba"

4. عصير برتقال من فضلك

   ʿAṣīr burtuqāl min faḍlak

   Orange juice, please

   Usage

   Used to order fresh juice at cafés or restaurants

   Grammar Note

   "'Asir" + fruit name orders any juice. Examples: "'asir mango" (mango juice), "'asir rumman" (pomegranate juice). Fresh juices are abundant and affordable across the Middle East

5. هل عندك لبن؟

   Hal ʿindaka laban?

   Do you have laban (buttermilk)?

   Usage

   Used to order laban, a traditional salty or tangy fermented milk drink popular in the Gulf and Levant

   Grammar Note

   "Laban" can mean fresh milk in Egypt but refers to salty fermented buttermilk in the Gulf. "Halib" is the standard word for fresh milk across dialects

6. من فضلك، بدون سكر

   Min faḍlak, bi-dūn sukkar

   Without sugar, please

   Usage

   Arab tea and coffee are typically served very sweet; use this to request an unsweetened version

   Grammar Note

   "Bidun" is a preposition meaning "without". Also useful: "bi-sukkar qalil" (with a little sugar), "bi-sukkar kathir" (extra sweet)

7. شاي بالنعناع لو سمحت

   Shāy binnaʿnāʿ law samaḥt

   Mint tea, please

   Usage

   Used to order fresh mint tea, popular especially in North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia) and the Levant

   Grammar Note

   "Law samaht" is a slightly more polite request than "min fadlak". For a female, say "law samahti". In Morocco, the dialect form "atay bin-na'na'" is also common

8. القهوة أقوى أم أخف؟

   Al-qahwa aqwā am akhaff?

   Is the coffee strong or light?

   Usage

   Used to ask about coffee strength; relevant since Arabic and Turkish coffees differ greatly in intensity

   Grammar Note

   Arabic comparatives follow the "af'al" pattern (prefix a- + root modification). "Qawi → aqwa" (strong → stronger), "khafif → akhaf" (light → lighter)

9. هل يمكنني الحصول على الفاتورة؟

   Hal yumkinunī al-ḥuṣūl ʿalā al-fātūra?

   Could I get the bill?

   Usage

   Used at cafés or restaurants to request the check

   Grammar Note

   The colloquial "al-hisab min fadlak" (the bill please) is more commonly heard. "Al-fatura" is also used for formal invoices

10. كأس ماء إضافي من فضلك

    Kaʾs māʾ iḍāfī min faḍlak

    An extra glass of water, please

    Usage

    Used to request a refill or extra glass of water during a meal or at a café

    Grammar Note

    "Idafi" is an adjective meaning "extra/additional". Use in other contexts: "ka's idafi min al-qahwa" (another coffee), "wajba idafiyya" (extra meal)

11. بدون ثلج

    bidūn thalj

    No ice

    Usage

    Shown to avoid ice made from tap water; in a drinks context thalj means ice cubes

12. مياه معدنية

    miyāh maʿdaniyya

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Shown when asking for bottled water

13. ماء ساخن

    māʾ sākhin

    Hot water

    Usage

    Shown when asking for hot water for medicine or formula

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