Food vocabulary is essential for daily life in any Arabic-speaking country. Whether you are ordering at a restaurant or shopping at the souq, these words come up constantly. Tap any word above to hear it.
Food in sentences
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أريد خبزا | ureed khubzan | I want bread |
| هل تحب اللحم؟ | hal tuḥibb al-laḥm? | do you like meat? |
| الطعم لذيذ | aṭ-ṭa3m ladheedh | the taste is delicious |
| هذا طعام حار | haadha ṭa3aam ḥaar | this is hot (spicy) food |
| أريد ماء من فضلك | ureed maa’ min faḍlik | I want water please |
| القهوة ساخنة | al-qahwa saakhina | the coffee is hot |
| العصير بارد | al-3aṣeer baarid | the juice is cold |
Meals of the day
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| فطور | fuṭoor | breakfast |
| غداء | ghadaa’ | lunch |
| عشاء | 3ashaa’ | dinner |
| وجبة خفيفة | wajba khafeefa | snack |
| وجبة كاملة | wajba kaamila | full meal |
Ordering and shopping
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| قائمة | qaa’ima | menu |
| طلب | ṭalab | order |
| فاتورة | faatoora | bill |
| مطعم | maṭ3am | restaurant |
| مطبخ | maṭbakh | kitchen |
| كم السعر؟ | kam as-si3r? | how much does it cost? |
Cultural note
Bread (خبز, khubz) is the staple of almost every meal across the Middle East. You will often hear خبز وحليب (khubz wa ḥaleeb, “bread and milk”) described as a simple, satisfying meal. Sharing food is also a core value — dishes are typically placed in the center of the table for everyone to eat from together, and refusing food can be seen as impolite.
Practice
How do you say 'I want bread' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'أريد' for 'I want'
What is 'دجاج' in English?
hint: It is a very common food item
How do you ask 'do you like meat?' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'هل تحب' for 'do you like'
Want to practice ordering? Try the restaurant lesson or shop at the market.
Share what you know
0 notes from learners — add an example, a tip, or a correction
Know something that would help?
Add an example, a tip, or a correction for other learners.
Sign in to contribute