Language/Mesopotamian-arabic/Vocabulary/Drinks
Hi Mesopotamian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore the different drinks in Mesopotamian Arabic. Drinks are an essential part of any society, and each culture has its unique way of mixing and serving drinks. In Mesopotamian Arabic, many words are used to describe drinks, and some words are specific to the region. There are many traditional drinks that still exist in the Mesopotamian Arabic-speaking world that have been made for generations. In this lesson, we will introduce some popular Arabic drinks and talk about the culture surrounding them.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Days of the Week & Fruits.
Beverages[edit | edit source]
In Mesopotamian Arabic, different words are used to describe drinks such as water, milk, tea, coffee, etc. Here are some examples and their translations:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ما | maa | water |
| لبن | laban | milk |
| شاي | shay | tea |
| قهوة | qahwah | coffee |
Examples[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: هل لديك ماء؟ (hal ladayka maa?) - Do you have water?
- Person 2: نعم، هناك زجاجة مياه. (naam, hnak zjaja maa) - Yes, there is a bottle of water.
- Person 1: هل أنت تشرب اللبن؟ (hal anta tashrab al-laban?) - Do you drink milk?
- Person 2: لا، أنا لا أشرب اللبن. (la, ana la ashurub al-laban.) - No, I don't drink milk.
- Person 1: هل تحب الشاي؟ (hal tuhibb al-shay?) - Do you like tea?
- Person 2: نعم، أحب الشاي الأخضر. (naam, uhubb al-shay al-akhdhar.) - Yes, I like green tea.
- Person 1: هل تحب القهوة؟ (hal tuhib al-qahwah?) - Do you like coffee?
- Person 2: نعم، أحب القهوة السوداء. (naam, uhubb al-qahwah al-sawdaa.) - Yes, I like black coffee.
Traditional drinks[edit | edit source]
Mesopotamian Arabic is known for its traditional drinks. Here are some examples and their translations:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| عيران | 'ayran | Ayran (a cold yogurt drink) |
| شربت | sharabat | Sharbat (a sweet, syrupy drink) |
| قرفة | qirfa | Qirfa (a cinnamon-infused drink) |
| سدر | sidr | Sidr (a sweetened grape juice) |
Examples[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: هل جربتُ العيران من قبل؟ (hal jarabt al-'ayran min qabl?) - Have you tried Ayran before?
- Person 2: لا، ما هو العيران؟ (la, ma hu al-'ayran?) - No, what is Ayran?
- Person 1: العيران هو مشروب بارد مصنوع من الزبادي ويحتوي على الملح والماء. (al-'ayran hu mashruub baarid masnuaa min al-zabadi wa yahthu alaa al-milh wa al-maa.) - Ayran is a cold drink made from yogurt and contains salt and water.
- Person 2: يبدو لذيذ! (yabduu laziiz!) - That sounds delicious!
Alcohol[edit | edit source]
In Mesopotamian Arabic culture, alcohol is generally taboo, and the consumption of alcoholic drinks is considered a grave sin. Only a small percentage of the population consumes alcohol, which is sold only in specific stores.
Ordering a drink[edit | edit source]
If you want to order a drink in Mesopotamian Arabic, use the following phrases:
- Can you bring me a drink, please? - تستطيع أن تجلب لي مشروباً، من فضلك؟ (tastatee' 'an tajlib lii mashruuban min fadlik?)
- I want a coffee, please - أريد كوباً من القهوة، من فضلك (urid kuban min al-qahwah, min fadlik)
- I would like a tea, please - أرغب بفنجان شاي، من فضلك (arhabu bi-finan shay, min fadlik)
Remember to use polite words such as "please" and "thank you" when ordering a drink.
To improve your Mesopotamian Arabic Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!