Café & Drinks

1. Shaah ayaan rabaa

   I would like tea

   Usage

   A basic way to order tea.

   Grammar Note

   The wanted item comes first and takes the focus particle ayaa, as in "Bariis iyo hilib ayaan rabaa".

2. Fadlan i sii liiska cabitaanka

   Please give me the drinks menu

   Usage

   Ask for the list of drinks. It mirrors the food-menu request liiska cuntada.

   Grammar Note

   I sii means "give me". Two nouns in a row give "list of drinks" with no preposition in between.

3. Dhalo biyo ah, fadlan

   A bottle of water, please

   Usage

   Order bottled water in a shop or restaurant, handy if you prefer to avoid tap water.

   Grammar Note

   "Dhalo biyo ah" is "a bottle that is water", i.e. a bottle of water. Ah ties the noun to what it contains.

4. Qaxwo sokor la'aan ah, fadlan

   Coffee without sugar, please

   Usage

   For ordering coffee without sugar.

   Grammar Note

   La'aan after a noun means "without it". Keep the apostrophe; it marks the glottal stop.

5. Caano geel ma haysaa?

   Do you have camel milk?

   Usage

   Asks whether camel milk is available. The dictionary also has the phrase "caano geel".

   Grammar Note

   "Caano geel" is "camel milk": two nouns side by side. Haysaa is the "you have" form.

6. Halkan maxaa badanaa la cabbaa?

   What do people usually drink here?

   Usage

   A way to ask for local recommendations.

   Grammar Note

   The impersonal la gives "what do people drink". Maxaa is the question word "what".

7. Koob kale, fadlan

   Another glass, please

   Usage

   Ask for a refill, for tea or any other drink.

   Grammar Note

   Kale follows the noun and means "another".

8. Khamri ma cabbo

   I do not drink alcohol

   Usage

   A polite refusal if alcohol is offered. Khamri means "alcohol".

   Grammar Note

   A negative sentence uses ma with the negative verb form, and the object khamri comes first.

9. Biyo kulul

   Hot water

   Usage

   A short way to ask for hot water in a shop or lodging.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective follows the noun. Biyo is a mass noun.

10. Baraf la'aan

    No ice

    Usage

    Tell the server to leave out the ice.

    Grammar Note

    La'aan after a noun gives "without".

11. Baraf

    Ice

    Usage

    A single word to ask for ice.

    Grammar Note

    Baraf is masculine and can also mean snow or hail.

12. Biyahan ma la cabbi karaa?

    Is this water safe to drink?

    Usage

    Check whether tap or well water is drinkable. If in doubt, choose bottled water.

    Grammar Note

    "Ma la ... karaa?" asks impersonally whether something can be done. Biyahan is "this water".

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