Food & Drinks

1. Menyunu göstərin, zəhmət olmasa

   Please show me the menu

   Usage

   Polite way to request the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Zəhmət olmasa" literally means "if it's no trouble" and softens requests. Azerbaijani marks direct objects with accusative case suffix "-nu/-ni".

2. Bu nədir?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Used to ask about a dish or menu item

   Grammar Note

   "Nə" (what) + copula "-dir". Azerbaijani questions simply place the question word without reordering the sentence.

3. Plov bir porsiya, xahiş edirəm

   One portion of plov (pilaf), please

   Usage

   Ordering plov, the national dish of Azerbaijan, a saffron rice pilaf

   Grammar Note

   "Xahiş edirəm" literally "I am requesting". SOV order: "xahiş" (request) + verb "et" + present suffix "-irəm" (I).

4. Çox dadlıdır

   It's very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting food; polite thing to say to the cook or host

   Grammar Note

   "Dad" (taste) + adjectival suffix "-lı" + copula "-dır". The suffix alternates as "-lı/-li/-lu/-lü" by vowel harmony.

5. Vegetarian yeməkləriniz varmı?

   Do you have vegetarian dishes?

   Usage

   Checking if vegetarian options are available

   Grammar Note

   "Var" (there is/have) + question suffix "-mı". Yes/no questions add "-mı/-mi/-mu/-mü" following vowel harmony.

6. Hesabı gətirin, zəhmət olmasa

   Please bring the bill

   Usage

   Requesting the check at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Hesab" (account/bill) + accusative "-ı". "Gətir-" (bring) + polite imperative "-in". The accusative marks the direct object in SOV structure.

7. Çay gətirin, xahiş edirəm

   Please bring tea

   Usage

   Tea (çay) is central to Azerbaijani culture; requested in restaurants and homes

   Grammar Note

   "Çay" shares roots with Turkish "çay". Azerbaijanis traditionally drink tea from tulip-shaped glasses with sugar cubes on the side.

8. Şorba istəyirəm

   I want soup

   Usage

   Expressing what you want to eat; replace dish name as needed

   Grammar Note

   "İstə" (want) + present suffix "-yirəm" (I). SOV order: object "Şorba" precedes verb "istəyirəm".

9. Allergiyam var

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Informing restaurant staff about a food allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Allergiya" + "-m" (my) + "var" (there is). Specify: "Qərzəkli meyvələrə allergiyam var" (nut allergy), "Süd allergiyam var" (dairy allergy). "Qoz" alone means walnut only, so it is not used for nuts in general.

10. Nar şirəsi varmı?

    Do you have pomegranate juice?

    Usage

    Ordering pomegranate juice, a symbol of Azerbaijani culture

    Grammar Note

    "Şirə" (juice) + possessive "-si" (its). Pomegranate (nar) is a national symbol; the annual pomegranate festival is held in Goychay.

11. Doydum, çox sağ olun

    I am full, thank you very much

    Usage

    Expressing gratitude after a meal; important in Azerbaijani hospitality culture

    Grammar Note

    "Doy" (to be full/satisfied) + past "-dum" (I). "Sağ olun" is the formal of "sağ ol" (thank you). Expressing gratitude after meals is vital in Azerbaijani hospitality.

12. Çörək

    Bread

    Usage

    For ordering or checking bread. Beware: Turkish "çörek" is a sweet bun (Turkish bread is "ekmek"). Flatbread from a clay oven is "təndir çörəyi"

13. Plov

    Cooked rice (pilaf)

    Usage

    Rice as served; uncooked rice is a different word, "düyü", so use this one at the table. The national dish, with many varieties (also called "aş")

14. Əriştə

    Noodles

    Usage

    Hand-cut flat noodles, usually served in soup ("əriştə şorbası"); packaged pasta is a separate word, "makaron"

15. Acı

    Spicy (chili-hot)

    Usage

    Ambiguous — it means both chili-hot and bitter. To be sure you are asking about heat, show "acı bibərli" (with chili). Azerbaijani food is not spicy by default

16. Şirin

    Sweet

    Usage

    Sweet as a taste; the same word applied to a person means cute or lovely, so show it about food or drink. Without sugar is "şəkərsiz"

17. Çiy

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    To check or refuse uncooked food; "Yaxşı bişirin" = please cook it well. "Bişməmiş" (not cooked) works too

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