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Ordering a Drink at a Café in Arabic: A1 Conversation

A1 · Conversation 11 · Modern Standard Arabic

Order a drink and express simple serving preferences.

Ordering a drink in Arabic: a steaming cup and saucer beside a sugar bowl and spoon on a blue background.
ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION

Salim visits a café and orders tea. The waiter checks the cup size, sugar and milk before bringing his drink to the table.

01Read the Arabic conversation

شَايٌ فِي الْمَقْهَى

النَّادِلُ: مَرْحَبًا! مَاذَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَشْرَبَ؟

سَالِمٌ: أُرِيدُ شَايًا، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.

النَّادِلُ: أَتُرِيدُ كُوبًا صَغِيرًا أَمْ كَبِيرًا؟

سَالِمٌ: أُرِيدُ كُوبًا صَغِيرًا.

النَّادِلُ: هَلْ تُرِيدُ سُكَّرًا؟

سَالِمٌ: لَا، شُكْرًا. أُرِيدُ الشَّايَ بِدُونِ سُكَّرٍ.

النَّادِلُ: وَهَلْ تُرِيدُ حَلِيبًا؟

سَالِمٌ: نَعَمْ، قَلِيلًا مِنَ الْحَلِيبِ، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.

النَّادِلُ: هَلْ تَجْلِسُ هُنَا؟

سَالِمٌ: نَعَمْ، أَجْلِسُ قُرْبَ النَّافِذَةِ.

النَّادِلُ: هٰذَا شَايُكَ: كُوبٌ صَغِيرٌ، بِقَلِيلٍ مِنَ الْحَلِيبِ، وَبِدُونِ سُكَّرٍ.

سَالِمٌ: شُكْرًا. هَلْ هُوَ سَاخِنٌ؟

النَّادِلُ: نَعَمْ، الشَّايُ سَاخِنٌ. تَفَضَّلْ.

سَالِمٌ: شُكْرًا جَزِيلًا.

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Waiter: Hello! What would you like to drink?

Salim: I would like tea, please.

Waiter: Would you like a small cup or a large one?

Salim: I would like a small cup.

Waiter: Would you like sugar?

Salim: No, thank you. I would like the tea without sugar.

Waiter: And would you like milk?

Salim: Yes, a little milk, please.

Waiter: Are you sitting here?

Salim: Yes, I am sitting near the window.

Waiter: Here is your tea: a small cup, with a little milk and without sugar.

Salim: Thank you. Is it hot?

Waiter: Yes, the tea is hot. Here you are.

Salim: Thank you very much.

02Useful words and expressions

Useful words and expressions for Ordering a Drink at a Café in Arabic
ArabicMeaning in this conversation
أُرِيدُ شَايًاI would like tea
مِنْ فَضْلِكَplease — addressed to a man
كُوبًا صَغِيرًاa small cup — as the object of a request
سُكَّرًاsugar — as the object of a request
بِدُونِ سُكَّرٍwithout sugar
قَلِيلًا مِنَ الْحَلِيبِa little milk — in this request
قُرْبَ النَّافِذَةِnear the window
سَاخِنٌhot

03Check your understanding

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What to remember

  • Start a drink order with أُرِيدُ and add مِنْ فَضْلِكَ when speaking to a man.
  • Use بِدُونِ سُكَّرٍ for “without sugar” and قَلِيلًا مِنَ الْحَلِيبِ to request a little milk.

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