A short restaurant visit needs just a few clear requests. Ask for the menu, say what you want, choose a drink, then request the bill. This mini conversation uses Modern Standard Arabic; local everyday wording varies. Follow one meal from the first request to the final thank you.
02Choose the rice
urz
Rice
ma
Water
أُرِيدُ الْأُرْز، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
uridu alurz min fadlika
I want the rice, please.
Uridu means I want and works for any speaker. Alurz identifies the rice on our practice menu. These cards show your meal choice; the water comes in the next turn. Say the request once while looking, then cover the reading aid and try again.
03Answer a drink choice
Staff: مَاء أَمْ شَاي؟
ma am shay
Water or tea?
You: الْمَاء، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
alma min fadlika
The water, please.
Ma is water, shay is tea, and am presents the two alternatives in this question. Your reply names only the drink you choose. You do not need to repeat the whole question. If you choose tea another time, replace alma with الشَّاي ashshay.
04Finish the meal
الْحِسَاب، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
alhisab min fadlika
The bill, please.
Alhisab is the bill in this restaurant context. Ask for it when you are ready to pay. The menu and the bill have different jobs: one helps you choose; the other records what you need to pay.
Then say شُكْرًا shukran, thank you. If you are addressing one woman, use مِنْ فَضْلِكِ min fadliki for please. The ending follows the person you address.
05Play through the whole visit
- Choose: Ask for the menu.
- Order: Request the rice.
- Reply: Choose water when offered water or tea.
- Finish: Ask for the bill and say thank you.
Read the four stages as one small scene. Pause after each request to imagine the reply, rather than reciting every line at once. On a second run, choose tea instead of water. The rest of your visit can stay the same.
The plain reading aids simplify sounds and some endings. Keep the Arabic beside them, especially when noticing the difference between min fadlika and min fadliki.
What to remember
- Use qaimat attaam for the menu and alhisab for the bill.
- Uridu introduces your order; ma and shay distinguish water from tea.
- Choose min fadlika or min fadliki for the person you address.
Your reference shelf
Open a guide whenever you need it.
Your restaurant pocket scriptOpen the four requests and the drink question
| Meaning | Arabic | Plain reading aid |
|---|---|---|
| The menu, please | قَائِمَة الطَّعَام، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ | qaimat attaam min fadlika |
| I want the rice, please | أُرِيدُ الْأُرْز، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ | uridu alurz min fadlika |
| Water or tea? | مَاء أَمْ شَاي؟ | ma am shay |
| The water, please | الْمَاء، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ | alma min fadlika |
| The bill, please | الْحِسَاب، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ | alhisab min fadlika |
| Thank you | شُكْرًا | shukran |
The please phrases in this table address one man. Change min fadlika to min fadliki when speaking to one woman.
Sources & further learning
References for the language explanations and learning guidance.
