Café & Drinks

1. ایک چائے لائیں

   ek cha-i la-yen

   Please bring one tea

   Usage

   Used at chai spots or restaurants to order Pakistani tea

   Grammar Note

   "Layen" is polite imperative of "lana" (to bring). Pakistani chai is strong, spiced milk tea often with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon. "Doodh patti" is pure milk tea

2. لسی ملے گی؟

   las-si mi-le gi?

   Will we get lassi here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether lassi (yogurt drink) is available

   Grammar Note

   "Lassi" is feminine, hence "milegi" (feminine). Varieties: "meethi lassi" (sweet) and "namkin lassi" (salty). Lahori lassi in a large clay pot is iconic

3. ٹھنڈا پانی چاہیے

   than-da pa-ni cha-hi-ye

   I need cold water

   Usage

   Used to request cold water, especially in Pakistan's hot climate

   Grammar Note

   "Chahiye" (needed/wanted) is an invariable expression regardless of gender or number. Opposite of "garam" (hot). "Botl wala pani" = bottled water

4. گنے کا رس کہاں ملتا ہے؟

   gan-ne ka ras ka-han mil-ta hai?

   Where can we get sugarcane juice?

   Usage

   Used to find Pakistan's popular street drink of fresh-pressed sugarcane juice

   Grammar Note

   "Ganne ka ras" = "sugarcane juice" (possessive "ka"). Sold from "rehri" (street carts). Ask whether ice is added: "baraf ke sath" (with ice)

5. کشمیری چائے ہوگی؟

   kash-mi-ri cha-i ho-gi?

   Will there be Kashmiri chai?

   Usage

   Used to ask for Kashmiri chai, a distinctive pink spiced milk tea

   Grammar Note

   Kashmiri chai, also called "gulabi chai" (pink tea), is made with green tea, milk, salt, and cardamom. Its distinctive pink color comes from baking soda reaction

6. شربت پینا چاہتا ہوں

   shar-bat pi-na cha-hta hun

   I want to drink sharbat

   Usage

   Used to order sharbat, the traditional sweet fruit-based cold drink

   Grammar Note

   "Sharbat" is the origin of English "sorbet/syrup." "Pina chahta hun" = "I want to drink" (masculine). Rose (gulab), tamarind (imli), and mango varieties are popular

7. بغیر چینی کے چائے دیں

   ba-ghair chi-ni ke cha-i den

   Please give tea without sugar

   Usage

   Used to order tea without sugar

   Grammar Note

   "Baghair + ke" = "without" (postpositional phrase). "Chini" means both "sugar" and "Chinese" — a homonym. "Kam chini" (less sugar) is another useful option

8. تازہ پھلوں کا جوس ملے گا؟

   ta-za pha-lon ka ju-s mi-le ga?

   Will we get fresh fruit juice?

   Usage

   Used to ask for freshly made fruit juice

   Grammar Note

   "Phalon" is the oblique plural of "phal" (fruit), used before postpositions. Popular Pakistani juices: mango (am), chiku (sapodilla), lychee, pomegranate (anar)

9. کافی یا چائے؟

   ka-fi ya cha-i?

   Coffee or chai?

   Usage

   Used to offer or choose between coffee and tea

   Grammar Note

   "Ya" = or. While chai dominates Pakistani culture, cafe culture is growing in cities like Lahore and Karachi. "Dono" (both) is a possible answer

10. حساب کتنا ہوا؟

    hi-sab kit-na hu-a?

    How much did the bill come to?

    Usage

    Used at cafes or dhabas to ask for the total bill

    Grammar Note

    "Hua" is masculine singular past tense of "hona" (to be/become). "Hisab layen" (bring the bill) or "bil layen" are alternatives. "Dhaba" = roadside eatery

11. بوتل کا پانی

    bo-tal ka pa-ni

    Bottled water

    Usage

    Do not drink tap water; check that the seal is unbroken when it is handed to you

12. برف نہیں

    barf na-hin

    No ice

    Usage

    Ice is often made from tap water; point to this when ordering if you want to avoid stomach trouble

13. گرم پانی

    ga-ram pa-ni

    Hot water

    Usage

    Ask for this to take medicine or make a powdered drink; understood in eateries and hotels alike

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