Café & Drinks

1. एक चाय देना

   Ek chaa-y de-na

   Give me one chai (tea)

   Usage

   Casual order for a cup of chai at a tea stall or dhaba

   Grammar Note

   Indian chai is brewed tea with milk, sugar, and spices (cardamom, ginger, cinnamon). "Masala chai" is the full name, but simply "chai" is common. It is central to Indian daily life

2. एक लस्सी मिलेगी?

   Ek las-si mi-le-gi?

   Can I get a lassi?

   Usage

   Used to order lassi, a popular yogurt-based drink, at restaurants or street stalls

   Grammar Note

   "Milegi?" (future tense of "milna") functions as "can I get?" — a useful ordering expression. Variants: "mithi lassi" (sweet lassi), "namkeen lassi" (salty lassi)

3. ठंडा पानी चाहिए

   Than-da paa-ni chaa-hi-ye

   I need cold water

   Usage

   Essential in India's hot climate. Used at restaurants, hotels, or food stalls

   Grammar Note

   "Thanda" (cold) also doubles as a brand reference (like Thums Up). "Ubla pani" (boiled water) or "botalband pani" (bottled water) are safer alternatives to request

4. नारियल पानी देना

   Naa-ri-yal paa-ni de-na

   Give me coconut water

   Usage

   Used at roadside stalls to order fresh coconut water, a popular street drink in India

   Grammar Note

   Street vendors in India hack open fresh coconuts on the spot. Coconut water is especially popular in summer heat. Ask "mitha hai?" (is it sweet?) to check

5. आम का जूस है?

   Aam ka jus hai?

   Is there mango juice?

   Usage

   Used to ask if mango juice is available at a café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   India is a major mango producer with many varieties (Alphonso, Dasheri, etc.). Interestingly, "aam" also means "common/ordinary" (e.g., "aam aadmi" = common man)

6. बिना चीनी के चाय देना

   Bi-na chee-ni ke chaa-y de-na

   Give me tea without sugar

   Usage

   Indian chai is typically very sweet; use this to request an unsweetened cup

   Grammar Note

   "Chini" (sugar) literally means "Chinese", reflecting its historical import from China. "Kam chini" (less sugar) is an alternative to specify a smaller amount

7. एक गिलास दूध मिलेगा?

   Ek gi-laas dudh mi-le-ga?

   Can I get a glass of milk?

   Usage

   Used at hotel breakfast or cafés to order a glass of milk

   Grammar Note

   Milk is fundamental to Indian drinks and food. "Bhains ka dudh" (buffalo milk) is prized for being richer and creamier. "Gaay ka dudh" (cow's milk) is the standard

8. शरबत क्या-क्या है?

   Shar-bat kya-kya hai?

   What kinds of sharbat (syrup drink) are available?

   Usage

   Used to ask what types of traditional sharbat or fresh drinks are available

   Grammar Note

   "Kya-kya" (what-what) is a reduplication asking "what all/what kinds". "Sharbat" is the Arabic-origin ancestor of English "sherbet/sorbet". Flavors include rose, lemon, tamarind

9. कॉफ़ी बहुत अच्छी है

   Ko-fi ba-hut ach-chi hai

   The coffee is very good

   Usage

   Used to compliment the taste of coffee at a café

   Grammar Note

   "Kofi" (coffee) is feminine, hence "acchi" (feminine adjective). South India's "filter kofi" (drip coffee) is famous. In North India, "instant kofi" is also common

10. बिल लाइए

    Bil laa-i-ye

    Please bring the bill

    Usage

    Used at cafés or restaurants to request the bill after eating or drinking

    Grammar Note

    "Laiye" is the polite imperative of "lana" (to bring). The English word "check" is also understood in Indian cafés. "Paise lagenge kitne?" (how much will it cost?) is also useful

11. बोतलबंद पानी

    Botalband paani

    Bottled water

    Usage

    Asks for sealed bottled water; check the seal rather than drinking tap water

12. बर्फ़ नहीं

    Barf nahin

    No ice

    Usage

    Ice may be made from tap water, so show this to avoid an upset stomach

13. गरम पानी

    Garam paani

    Hot water

    Usage

    Asks for hot water, e.g. to drink plain or to mix a powder

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