Wine & Spirits

1. Ma hûn dikarin lîsteya şeraban bidin min?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   Request wine list at restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "şeraban" is the plural oblique "of wines". "dan" (to give) needs its recipient spelled out: "bidin min" (give me)

2. Ma dikarin şerab an vexwarina herêmî pêşniyar bikin?

   Can you recommend a local wine or spirit?

   Usage

   Ask for local wine or spirit recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "pêşniyar kirin" = compound verb "to recommend"

3. Ez şeraba sor / spî / rozê / ya bi gaz dixwazim.

   I'd like red / white / rosé / sparkling wine.

   Usage

   Order specific type of wine

   Grammar Note

   "dixwazim" = "I want" (1sg present). Kurmanji has no word for "sparkling", so "bi gaz" (with gas) is used; do not use "kozik", which means "bastion, redoubt"

4. Ez qedehek / şûşeyek dixwazim, ji kerema xwe.

   I'd like a glass / bottle please.

   Usage

   Specify glass or bottle

   Grammar Note

   A drinking glass is "qedeh"; "cam" is the material glass. The suffix "-ek" marks "a/one" (indefinite)

5. Bi vê xwarinê re çi baştir e?

   What pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   Ask for food pairing suggestion

   Grammar Note

   "bi ... re" = comitative "with"

6. Rêjeya alkola wê çiqas e?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   Ask about alcohol content

   Grammar Note

   "rêjeya alkola" = ezafe chain "percentage of alcohol"

7. Ev zuha / bi çêja fêkiyan / nerm e.

   This is dry / fruity / smooth.

   Usage

   Express tasting notes

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives take the sentence-final copula "e". "çêj" is "taste/flavour", so "bi çêja fêkiyan" = with the flavour of fruit. "mêwedar" (lit. "having vines") is a coined word

8. Ez dixwazim tamkirina şeraban bikim.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Sign up for wine tasting

   Grammar Note

   "bikim" = 1sg subjunctive. "to taste" is "tam kirin" (tam = taste); "tatêdan" is a coined word

9. Ne pir şêrîn, ji kerema xwe.

   Not too sweet, please.

   Usage

   Express preference for less sweet wine

   Grammar Note

   "ne" = negation; "pir" = intensifier

10. Şeraba malê çi ye?

    What's the house wine?

    Usage

    Ask about house wine

    Grammar Note

    "malê" = genitive "of the house"

11. Ev şerab ji kîjan herêmê ye?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Ask about wine region

    Grammar Note

    "ji ... ye" = "from ..." origin structure

12. Sax bin!

    Cheers! Let's toast!

    Usage

    Toast expression

    Grammar Note

    "Sax bin" ("be well") is the Kurdish toast. "Şast" is not a Kurmanji word; do not use "serxweş", which means "drunk"

13. Ma ev şerab sar e?

    Is this wine chilled?

    Usage

    Check if wine is properly chilled

    Grammar Note

    "sar e" = "is cold" (copula sentence). Kurmanji for "cold" is sar — as in "Ava sar". sard is the Persian form

14. Ma vexwarinên bêalkol jî hene?

    Do you have non-alcoholic options?

    Usage

    Ask for non-alcoholic options

    Grammar Note

    "bê-" prefix means "without"

15. Ma ez dikarim kîlera şeraban bibînim?

    Can I visit the wine cellar?

    Usage

    Request wine cellar visit

    Grammar Note

    "bibînim" = 1sg subjunctive "see". A cellar is "kîler" (also "jêrzemîn"); do not use "keler", which means "lizard"

16. Ma nimûne didin?

    Do you offer samples?

    Usage

    Ask if samples/flights are offered

    Grammar Note

    "didin" = 3pl present "give"

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