Café & Drinks

1. داير كباية شاي لو سمحت

   Dāyir kubbāya shāy law samaḥt

   I would like a glass of tea, please

   Usage

   The basic way to order at a tea stall or cafe. Tea in Sudan is often brewed sweet and served in small cups, so say early if you want less sugar

   Grammar Note

   A woman changes داير to دايرة. "لو سمحت" makes a request polite. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. داير قهوة لو سمحت

   Dāyir gahwa law samaḥt

   I would like coffee, please

   Usage

   The basic way to ask for coffee. Sudan also has a traditional way of brewing it in a clay pot called a "jabbana"

   Grammar Note

   "Want" is داير for a man and دايرة for a woman. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. موية باردة لو سمحت

   Mōya bārda law samaḥt

   Cold water, please

   Usage

   For asking for cold water on a hot day. The everyday word for water is "موية", not the standard "ماء"

   Grammar Note

   "Water" takes feminine agreement, so the adjective is feminine. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. عصير برتكان لو سمحت

   ʿAṣīr burtukān law samaḥt

   Orange juice, please

   Usage

   For ordering juice. It helps to check whether ice or sugar is added

   Grammar Note

   Oranges are also called برتكان in Sudan (standard برتقال). عصير ("juice") is the same as in Standard Arabic. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. شاي بدون سكر لو سمحت

   Shāy bidūn sukkar law samaḥt

   Tea without sugar, please

   Usage

   Say it with the order if you do not like sweet tea. Sugar is often added during brewing, so tell them before it is made

   Grammar Note

   "بدون" + noun means "without". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. بدون تلج لو سمحت

   Bidūn talj law samaḥt

   No ice, please

   Usage

   Use it when you are unsure about the water the ice was made from, or dislike very cold drinks

   Grammar Note

   "Ice" is the everyday form with the letter ث pronounced as t (standard ثلج). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. كباية موية تاني لو سمحت

   Kubbāyit mōya tāni law samaḥt

   Another glass of water, please

   Usage

   For asking for a refill of water. In hot places it pays to drink often

   Grammar Note

   تاني goes after the noun and means "another". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. موية سخنة لو سمحت

   Mōya sakhna law samaḥt

   Hot water, please

   Usage

   For asking for hot water. Take care with the heat of the cup when you receive it

   Grammar Note

   The adjective is feminine. The vowels of سخنة in the romanization are estimated. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. كباية كركدي لو سمحت

   Kubbāyit karkadē law samaḥt

   A glass of karkadeh (hibiscus drink), please

   Usage

   A drink made from hibiscus flowers, often served cold and one of Sudan's best-known drinks

   Grammar Note

   The name of the hibiscus drink. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. داير اجرب جبنة

    Dāyir ajarrib jabbana

    I would like to try jabbana (traditional pot coffee)

    Usage

    Here جبنة is not cheese but coffee brewed in a clay pot. You can ask for it at tea stalls. Check the price first

    Grammar Note

    The spelling is the same as the standard word for "cheese" but the meaning differs. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. أنا عطشان

    Ana ʿaṭshān

    I am thirsty

    Usage

    Add it when asking for water or a drink. In hot places it is better to drink before you get thirsty

    Grammar Note

    A woman says عطشانة. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. الموية دي نضيفة؟

    Il-mōya di naḍīfa?

    Is this water clean?

    Usage

    Ask before drinking tap water or water that is offered. If in doubt, ask for sealed bottled water

    Grammar Note

    The demonstratives are دا (m.), دي (f.) and ديل (pl.). "Water" takes feminine agreement. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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