Cooking & Markets

1. اسم المكون ده ايه؟

   Ism il-mukawwin da ē?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Point at an unknown ingredient at the market or in a kitchen.

   Grammar Note

   اسم X ايه؟ asks "what is X's name". The demonstrative ده follows the noun. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

2. الاكل ده حراق أوي؟

   Il-akl da ḥarrāʾ awi?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Checks the heat before you order. حراق means spicy-hot, as in chili.

   Grammar Note

   حراق is the masculine singular adjective; أوي intensifies. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

3. الاكلة دي بتتعمل ازاي؟

   Il-akla di bi-titʿimil izzāy?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   For asking how a dish is made. بتتعمل is the passive-like form "is made".

   Grammar Note

   اكلة is feminine, so the demonstrative is دي and the verb starts with ت-. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

4. اقدر اشتري خضار طازة منين؟

   Aʾdar ashtiri khuḍār ṭāza minēn?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   For finding a produce market. خضار is the general word for vegetables.

   Grammar Note

   خضار is a collective noun, so the adjective is singular (طازة). A composed sentence built from regular parts.

5. عايز اتعلم اطبخ الاكل المصري

   ʿĀyiz atʿallim aṭbukh il-akl il-miṣri

   I'd like to learn to cook local food

   Usage

   In Egypt, local food is simply called Egyptian food, الاكل المصري. A woman says عايزة.

   Grammar Note

   Two verbs in a row are both bare subjunctive. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

6. الاكلة دي فيها توابل ايه؟

   Il-akla di fīha tawābil ē?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Literally "what spices are in this dish?".

   Grammar Note

   فيها means "in it (f.)". توابل is a collective noun. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

7. ممكن اجرب شوية؟

   Mumkin agarrab shuwayya?

   Can I try a sample?

   Usage

   For asking for a taste at a stall or market. شوية means "a little".

   Grammar Note

   ممكن + bare subjunctive. شوية at the end marks a small amount.

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