Iftar in an Egyptian restaurant: Christie wi gozha Richard: Massa el-kheir. Fih tarabiza fadiya li etnein lau samaht? Christie and her husband Richard: Good evening. Is there an empty table for two, please? Garçon: Massa el-nur. Ayouah. Etfadlou maaiya. Waiter: Good evening to you both. Yes. Please follow me. Christie: Momken qaaimat el-taam, lau samaht. Christie: Could we have the menu, please. Garçon: Itfadlu. Fih asnaf laziza awei lill iftar. Waiter: Here you are. We have some very delicious dishes for iftar. Christie: Ana awza shorbaat khudar, wi ruz, wi nos farkha mashwiya, wi mahshi waraq enaab, wi salata khadra. Christie: I want vegetable soup, rice, half a grilled chicken, stuffed vine leaves and green salad. Garçon: Tout de suite. Tehibi teshrabi eih? Aseer manga, lamoun aw bortugal tazaa? Waiter: All right. What would you like to drink? We have fresh juice. Mango, lemon or orange? Christie: La. Ana awza izzazet maiya maadaniya soghairaa. Christie: No, I want a small bottle of mineral water. Garçon: Wi hadretik tehb taakol eih? Waiter: And what would you like to eat, Sir? Richard: Ana awez aakol ruz bil khalta, wi tabaaq lahma mashwiyaa (kebab), wi khodar sootie, wi taheena wi battates mehamarra. Wi awez ashrab izzazet hagaat saaqah. Richard: I want rice with cow's liver, a dish of grilled meat (kebab), sauteed vegetables, teheena and fried potatoes. I would like a soft drink. Garçon: Haader. Tayyeb, tehibo tehalow eih? Fih krem karamel, mahlabiya, ruz bi laban, Om Ali, wi fakkha tazaa. Waiter: Tout de suite. What would you like to have for dessert? We have creme caramel, milk pudding, rice pudding, Um Ali and fresh fruit. Christie and Richard: Ehna awzeen Om Ali bil mikassraat. Christie and Richard: We want Om Ali with nuts. Garçon: Bil hanna wa al-shifa (Bon appetit). Some useful nouns and adjectives: samak (fish), lahma (meat), farakh (chicken), hamam mahshi (stuffed pigeon), maahshi (stuffed vegetables), shorbaat (soup), ruz (rice), salata (salad), khodar (vegetables), helw (dessert), iftar (the fast-breaking meal), ghada (lunch), ashaa (dinner), haga saqaa (soft drink), aseer (juice), fakkha (fruit), samak maslooq (boiled fish), laham mashwi (grilled meat) and farakh mohammara (fried chicken) [email protected]
