Café & Drinks

1. Ji kerema xwe, çayek bide min.

   Ji ke-re-ma xwe, ça-yek bi-de min.

   Please give me a tea.

   Usage

   Tea (çay) is culturally central in Kurdish culture; a very common phrase.

   Grammar Note

   "bide" is the imperative of "dan" (to give); "-ek" in "çayek" is the indefinite article.

2. Qehweya kurdî xweş e.

   Qeh-we-ya kur-dî xweş e.

   Kurdish coffee is delicious.

   Usage

   Describing Kurdish coffee, which is often Turkish-style cardamom coffee.

   Grammar Note

   "xweş" is a versatile adjective meaning "good/pleasant/delicious/happy".

3. Avek sar bide min, ji kerema xwe.

   A-vek sar bi-de min, ji ke-re-ma xwe.

   Please give me a cold water.

   Usage

   Basic phrase for ordering cold water.

   Grammar Note

   "Avek" uses "-ek" (indefinite article), meaning "a water/one water".

4. Şerab heye?

   Şe-rab he-ye?

   Is there wine?

   Usage

   Asking if wine is available at a restaurant or bar.

   Grammar Note

   "heye" (there is) becomes a yes/no question with rising intonation.

5. Dûşaba tirî gelek xweş e.

   Dû-şa-ba ti-rî ge-lek xweş e.

   Grape molasses is very delicious.

   Usage

   Talking about dûşab, traditional Kurdish grape molasses.

   Grammar Note

   "gelek" is the adverb of degree meaning "very/much/a lot".

6. Ev vexwarin çiqas e?

   Ev ve-xwa-rin çi-qas e?

   How much does this drink cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price of a drink.

   Grammar Note

   "vexwarin" is the verbal noun of vexwarin (to drink), i.e. "a drink". Prices are asked with "Ev … çiqas e?". The subject ev is nominative, so vexwarin stays in the nominative too.

7. Şîreya sêvê dixwazim.

   Şî-re-ya sê-vê di-xwa-zim.

   I want apple juice.

   Usage

   Ordering a specific type of juice.

   Grammar Note

   "dixwazim" is the first person singular present of "xwestin" (to want).

8. Tiştekî bê alkol heye?

   Tiş-te-kî bê al-kol he-ye?

   Is there anything without alcohol?

   Usage

   Asking for non-alcoholic options.

   Grammar Note

   "bê" is the preposition "without"; the phrase bê alkol follows the noun it modifies. Existence is asked with heye — the subjunctive hebe means "may there be" and does not form a question.

9. Bê şekir, ji kerema xwe.

   Bê şe-kir, ji ke-re-ma xwe.

   Without sugar, please.

   Usage

   Specifying drink preferences at a cafe.

   Grammar Note

   "bê şekir" (without sugar) can stand alone as a polite specification.

10. Vexwarineke sar a herî baş çi ye?

    Ve-xwa-ri-ne-ke sar a he-rî baş çi ye?

    What is the best cold drink?

    Usage

    Asking the bartender or waiter for their best cold drink recommendation.

    Grammar Note

    "herî baş" is the superlative "best"; "herî" + adjective = superlative.

11. Bê qeşa

    No ice

    Usage

    Show it with your drink order to avoid unsafe ice

12. Ava mîneral

    Mineral water

    Usage

    For asking for safe drinking water

13. Ava germ

    Hot water

    Usage

    For asking for hot water for formula, medicine, or instant food

Browse all TravelPhrases languages