Local Drinks

1. قهوة

   qahwa

   Coffee (café)

   Usage

   It means both the drink and the traditional café, where most customers are men.

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun; with the article, "l-qahwa" leans toward the café as a place.

2. قهوة مقلوبة

   qahwa maqlūba

   Qahwa maqlouba (coffee over milk)

   Usage

   A glass with milk at the bottom and coffee poured on top; for people who like milky coffee.

   Grammar Note

   "Maqlūba" means "turned over"; the adjective takes the feminine form to agree with "qahwa".

3. آكسبراس

   aksbrās

   Espresso

   Usage

   A strong coffee without milk, served in a small cup. Cafés also write it "iksbrās".

   Grammar Note

   From French "express"; in a café you can simply say the number you want.

4. كابوسان

   kābūsān

   Cappuccino

   Usage

   A milky, foamy coffee you can order at cafés.

   Grammar Note

   A noun adapted from Italian "cappuccino".

5. تاي

   tāy

   Tea

   Usage

   The small, sweet glass of tea drunk after meals and during breaks. Standard Arabic "shāy" is not used.

   Grammar Note

   A masculine noun; one glass is "kās tāy".

6. تاي بالنعناع

   tāy b-n-naʿnāʿ

   Mint tea

   Usage

   Tea with mint leaves, drunk sweet. Tell the waiter how much sugar you want.

   Grammar Note

   The prefix "b-" means "with"; the article merges with the next letter, so the n is doubled.

7. تاي بالزقوقو

   tāy b-z-zqūqū

   Tea with pine nuts

   Usage

   Sweet tea in a small glass with pine nuts floating in it, a café speciality. The nuts are eaten with a spoon.

   Grammar Note

   The prefix "b-" means "with". "Zqūqū" is the Aleppo-pine seed (composed phrase); Standard Arabic says "ṣanawbar".

8. تاي أخضر

   tāy akhḍar

   Green tea

   Usage

   A light tea that many people drink without sugar.

   Grammar Note

   Noun plus adjective: "akhḍar" means "green".

9. تيزانا

   tīzāna

   Herbal tea

   Usage

   Herbal infusion drunk before bed or when the stomach is upset; mint and verbena are common.

   Grammar Note

   From French "tisane".

10. حليب

    ḥlīb

    Milk

    Usage

    Milk for coffee or tea, and the word for asking for a glass of milk.

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun; "ḥlīb w-mushtaqqātou" means dairy products.

11. ماء معدني

    mā maʿdani

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Bottled water; you may be asked whether you want a large or a small bottle.

    Grammar Note

    Noun plus adjective: "maʿdani" means "mineral".

12. عصير غلة

    ʿaṣīr ghalla

    Fruit juice

    Usage

    Fruit juice from cafés and juice bars; orange, strawberry and banana are popular.

    Grammar Note

    The noun "ʿaṣīr" (juice) is followed by "ghalla" (fruit).

13. ليموناضة

    līmūnāḍa

    Lemonade

    Usage

    A cold lemon drink for hot days.

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun of Romance origin.

14. قازوزة

    qāzūza

    Soft drink

    Usage

    A fizzy drink in a can or bottle; there is a local apple-flavoured brand called "Apla".

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun; Derja also writes it "gāzūz" with ڨ.

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