Arabic A2, Unit 9: Ordering in a restaurant

Ordering in a restaurant

Arabic A2 · Unit 9

GoalAsk for a table, read the menu, order food and ask for the bill.

New words

قَائِمَة الطَّعَام (qāʾimat aṭ-ṭaʿām) · menuنَادِل (nādil) · waiterأَطْلُب (aṭlub) · I order, I ask forلَذِيذ (ladhīdh) · deliciousسَاخِن (sākhin) · hotبَارِد (bārid) · coldعِنْدَكُم (ʿindakum) · do you (pl.) have, you have

Explanation

In a restaurant you first ask for a table: نُرِيد طَاوِلَة, “we want a table”. The waiter (نَادِل) brings the menu, قَائِمَة الطَّعَام. To order say أُرِيد (I want) or أَطْلُب (I order), and add مِن فَضْلِك, “please”. Ask “do you have…?” with هَل عِنْدَكُم. The waiter says تَفَضَّل, “here you are”. To pay say الْحِسَاب مِن فَضْلِك. Food can be لَذِيذ, سَاخِن or بَارِد.

Situation	Say	Meaning
a table	نُرِيد طَاوِلَة	we want a table
ordering	أُرِيد … مِن فَضْلِك	I want … please
asking	هَل عِنْدَكُم …؟	do you have …?
answering	تَفَضَّل	here you are
paying	الْحِسَاب مِن فَضْلِك	the bill, please

Worked examples

Waiter

تَفَضَّلِي، هَذِهِ قَائِمَة الطَّعَام.

Layla

هَل عِنْدَكُم حَسَاء؟

Waiter

نَعَم، عِنْدَنَا حَسَاء سَاخِن.

Layla

أُرِيد الْحَسَاء وَالسَّلَطَة، مِن فَضْلِك.

Waiter

تَفَضَّلِي.

Layla and the waiter. Press each line.

Questions and opinions. Listen and repeat.

Ordering for the family.

Class activity

Role-play. Write a short dialogue between a waiter and two guests: asking for a table, the menu, an order, a question with هَل عِنْدَكُم and the bill. Read both parts aloud with a friend.

Practice

Press Listen. What does the guest want to drink: tea, coffee or juice?

Write in Arabic: “do you have tea?” (to the waiter).

The picture shows a restaurant sign (fork and knife). Write “we want a table, please”.

The picture shows tea. Write “the tea is hot”.

Which word means “cold”: سَاخِن or بَارِد?

Food and the restaurant

Ordering in a restaurant