Cooking & Markets

1. بازار محلی کجاست؟

   Bāzār-e mahalli kojāst?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   Persian (Farsi) is written right-to-left. "kojāst?" means "where is it?"

2. این ماده غذایی چه نامی دارد؟

   In māde-ye ghazāyi che nāmi dārad?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   Persian uses SOV word order. "dārad" means "has/is"

3. این غذا خیلی تند است؟

   In ghazā kheyli tond ast?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "kheyli" is a Persian adverb meaning "very/much"

4. می‌توانید یک کلاس آشپزی پیشنهاد دهید؟

   Mitavānid yek kelās-e āshpazi pishnahād dahid?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used when seeking a cooking class recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "mitavānid" is the polite/plural second-person form meaning "can you"

5. این غذا چطور درست می‌شود؟

   In ghazā chetowr dorost mishavad?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "mishavad" is a passive construction meaning "is made/becomes"

6. سبزیجات تازه را از کجا می‌توان خرید؟

   Sabzijāt-e tāze rā az kojā mitavān kharid?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   "rā" is the accusative/object marker. In Persian, direct objects take "rā"

7. می‌خواهم یاد بگیرم غذای محلی بپزم.

   Mikhāham yād begiram ghazā-ye mahalli bepazam.

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "mikhāham" expresses desire; it is followed by a subjunctive verb

8. مواد غذایی گیاهخواری دارید؟

   Mavādd-e ghazāyi-ye giyāhkhāri dārid?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "dārid" is the polite form of "do you have?" in Persian

9. در این غذا چه ادویه‌هایی استفاده می‌شود؟

   Dar in ghazā che advieh-hāyi estefāde mishavad?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "che advieh-hāyi" means "what kind of spices" in Persian

10. می‌توانم یک نمونه امتحان کنم؟

    Mitavānam yek nemune emtehān konam?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    "mitavānam" is the first-person singular of "can/be able to" in Persian

11. سوپ

    sup

    Soup

    Usage

    Points at soup on a menu; the thick traditional bean-and-herb soup is āsh

12. میوه

    mive

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general; fruit juice is āb-e mive

13. سیر

    sir

    Garlic

    Usage

    Check for garlic; the same spelling also means "full/satiated", so point at the ingredient

14. پیاز

    piyāz

    Onion

    Usage

    Check for onion — nearly every Persian stew starts with it

15. فلفل تند

    felfel-e tond

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    The hot pepper specifically; felfel alone also covers black pepper and bell peppers, so tond is kept

16. گشنیز

    geshniz

    Coriander / cilantro

    Usage

    Fresh cilantro, heavily used in Iranian herb dishes; parsley is ja'fari

17. زنجبیل

    zanjabil

    Ginger

    Usage

    Ginger — used in Iran mostly as a spice or in herbal tea

18. توفو

    tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Tofu is not part of Iranian cuisine — expect it only in big-city supermarkets and import shops

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