Food & Drinks

1. القائمة من فضلك

   Al-qāʾima min faḍlak

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Used to request the menu at a restaurant.

   Grammar Note

   "Al-qa'ima" derives from root q-w-m (to stand/list). It is a feminine noun. "Min fadlak" is to a male; use "min fadlik" (kasra) for a female server.

2. الحساب من فضلك

   Al-ḥisāb min faḍlak

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Used to ask for the check after a meal.

   Grammar Note

   "Al-hisab" from root h-s-b also gives "hasub" (computer). "Al-fatura" is a synonymous word for bill/invoice also widely used.

3. ماء من فضلك

   Māʾ min faḍlak

   Water, please

   Usage

   Used to request water at a restaurant or shop.

   Grammar Note

   "Ma'" has the irregular plural "miyah". For bottled water say "ma' ma'dani". For cold water say "ma' barid".

4. قهوة عربية من فضلك

   Qahwa ʿarabiyya min faḍlak

   Arabic coffee, please

   Usage

   Lightly brewed coffee with cardamom, a symbol of hospitality in Gulf countries.

   Grammar Note

   In Arabic, adjectives follow the noun and agree in gender. "Qahwa" is feminine, so the adjective "arabi" takes the feminine form "arabiyya".

5. أنا نباتي

   Anā nabātī

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   For a male speaker. Female: "ana nabatiyya". Vegan: "ana nabati sarim" (strict vegetarian).

   Grammar Note

   Arabic omits the copula "to be" in the present tense. The structure "ana + noun/adjective" expresses "I am ..." without a verb.

6. لدي حساسية من المكسرات

   Ladayya ḥassāsiyya min al-muksarāt

   I have a nut allergy

   Usage

   Replace "al-muksarat" with any other ingredient to adapt this phrase.

   Grammar Note

   "Ladayya" is a prepositional possession phrase (no verb "to have"). "Min" indicates the allergen. Other allergens: gluten "al-glutin", dairy "muntajat al-alban".

7. بدون توابل حارة من فضلك

   Bi-dūn tawābil ḥārra min faḍlak

   Without hot spices, please

   Usage

   For those who cannot eat spicy food. The shorter "bidun harr" also works.

   Grammar Note

   "Bidun" is a preposition governing a genitive noun. The adjective "harra" must agree in gender with "tawabil".

8. هذا لذيذ جدًا

   Hādhā ladhīdh jiddan

   This is very delicious

   Usage

   Used to compliment food — a great compliment to the cook or host.

   Grammar Note

   "Hadha" is the masculine demonstrative. Use "hadhihi" for feminine nouns. "Jiddan" ends in tanwīn (-an) as an adverbial accusative.

9. هل الخدمة مشمولة في الحساب؟

   Hal al-khidma mashmūla fī al-ḥisāb?

   Is service included in the bill?

   Usage

   Used to check whether the service charge is included before paying.

   Grammar Note

   "Hal" forms yes/no questions. The predicate "mashmula" is a passive participle agreeing with "al-khadma" (feminine). "Fi" means "in".

10. أريد طاولة لشخصين

    Urīdu ṭāwila li-shakhṣayn

    I would like a table for two

    Usage

    Used upon entering a restaurant to request a table.

    Grammar Note

    Arabic has three numbers: singular, dual, and plural. "Shakhs" (one) → "shakhsayn" (two, dual) → "ashkhas" (plural). The dual is used only for exactly two.

11. ماذا تنصح به؟

    Mādhā tanṣaḥ bi-hi?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Used to ask a waiter for their recommendation.

    Grammar Note

    The verb "nasaha" governs the preposition "bi-". For a female server use "tansahina" instead of "tansah".

12. أرز

    aruzz

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    The staple to point at in an eatery; the same spelling can read as cedar, but in a food context it means rice

13. خبز

    khubz

    Bread

    Usage

    In the Arab world this usually means flatbread such as ʿaysh baladī

14. معكرونة

    maʿkarūna

    Noodles, pasta

    Usage

    Covers pasta in general; instant noodles are called nūdlz

15. حار

    ḥārr

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the dish — the same word also means hot in temperature; Egyptians also say ḥarrāʾ

16. حلو

    ḥulw

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describes taste; colloquially it also means nice or pretty, so point at the food while showing it

17. نيء

    nayyiʾ

    Raw, uncooked

    Usage

    Shown to avoid raw meat or fish, or to say something is undercooked

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