Café & Drinks

1. یک چای می‌خواهم

   yek chāyi mikhāham

   I would like one tea

   Usage

   Used in cafes or tea houses to order tea, which is ubiquitous in Iran

   Grammar Note

   "Mikhaham" is 1st person singular present of "khaastan" (to want). Traditional Persian tea is drunk while holding a sugar cube in the mouth (qand pahlu)

2. دوغ سرد دارید؟

   dugh sard dārid?

   Do you have cold doogh?

   Usage

   Used to order doogh, Iran's traditional fermented yogurt drink, often served cold

   Grammar Note

   Doogh is yogurt mixed with water, salt, and mint, sometimes carbonated. "Abdoogh khiar" (with cucumber) is a popular summer variant

3. آب معدنی لطفاً

   āb-e madani lotfan

   Mineral water please

   Usage

   Used to order water at restaurants or cafes

   Grammar Note

   "Ab madani" from "madan" (mine/mineral). "Lotfan" can precede or follow the noun. Tap water is "ab lule-kashi"; bottled water recommended for travelers

4. آب میوه تازه دارید؟

   āb-mive-ye tāze dārid?

   Do you have fresh fruit juice?

   Usage

   Used at Iran's popular ab-mive (juice) stands or restaurants to order fresh juice

   Grammar Note

   "Ab" (water) + "mive" (fruit) = "ab mive" (juice). Iran has many specialty juice bars. Popular: "havij" (carrot), "anar" (pomegranate), "tut farangi" (strawberry)

5. قهوه یا چای؟

   qahve yā chāyi?

   Coffee or tea?

   Usage

   Used to ask for or offer a choice between coffee and tea

   Grammar Note

   Tea (chai) is traditionally dominant in Iran. "Qahve" is borrowed from Arabic. Coffee culture has grown recently; "espresso" is also found in urban areas

6. شربت آلبالو می‌خواهم

   sharbat-e ālbālu mikhāham

   I would like sour cherry sherbet

   Usage

   Used to order sharbat, Iran's traditional sweet fruit-based syrup drink

   Grammar Note

   "Sharbat" is the origin of "sherbet" and "sorbet". A Persian drink of fruit syrup diluted with water. Other popular varieties: rose (gol mohammadi), mint (na'na')

7. چای بدون قند لطفاً

   chāyi bedun-e qand lotfan

   Tea without sugar please

   Usage

   Used to order tea without sugar; Iranian tea is typically served with sugar on the side

   Grammar Note

   "Bedune + noun" means "without". "Qand" is a sugar lump; "shekar" is granulated sugar. Traditionally, sugar is placed separately beside the tea, not dissolved in it

8. نوشیدنی گرم دارید؟

   nushidani-ye garm dārid?

   Do you have hot drinks?

   Usage

   Used in cold weather or evenings to ask for hot beverages

   Grammar Note

   "Nushidani" = "nushidan" (to drink) + suffix "-i" meaning "drinkable/something to drink". Opposite of "sard" (cold). Cognate with "garmabe" (hot bath/spring)

9. این چه مزه‌ای دارد؟

   in che maze-i dārad?

   What does this taste like?

   Usage

   Used before trying an unfamiliar drink to ask about its flavor

   Grammar Note

   Literally "what flavor does it have?" Taste adjectives: "mazedaar" (tasty), "bi-maze" (bland), "shirin" (sweet), "tors" (sour), "talkh" (bitter)

10. حساب را بیاورید لطفاً

    hesāb rā biyāvarid lotfan

    Please bring the bill

    Usage

    Used at cafes or restaurants to ask for the check

    Grammar Note

    "Ra" marks the direct object. "Biavarid" is the polite imperative of "avordan" (to bring). "Surathesab" is the more formal term for invoice/receipt

11. بدون یخ

    bedun-e yakh

    No ice

    Usage

    Show this when ordering if you are unsure about the water the ice is made from; bedun-e means "without"

12. آب جوش

    āb-e jush

    Boiled hot water

    Usage

    Ask for boiling water for instant noodles or powdered medicine; āb-e garm is merely warm tap water

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