Café & Drinks

1. 'n Glas water, asseblief.

   A glass of water, please.

   Usage

   Used to order a glass of water at a restaurant or café

   Grammar Note

   The indefinite article "'n" (English "a") in Afrikaans uses an apostrophe

2. Het julle plaaslike bier?

   Do you have local beer?

   Usage

   Used to ask if local beer is available

   Grammar Note

   Questions are formed by inverting the verb and subject, similar to English

3. Ek wil graag rooibostee hê.

   I would like rooibos tea.

   Usage

   Used to order rooibos tea, South Africa's famous herbal tea

   Grammar Note

   "Wil graag hê" means "would like to have"; "graag" softens "wil" (want) politely

4. Watter drank beveel jy aan?

   What do you recommend for drinks?

   Usage

   Used to ask a server or bartender for drink recommendations

   Grammar Note

   "Aanbeveel" (recommend) is a separable verb; the prefix "aan" moves to the end of the clause. "Watter drank" = "which drink".

5. Ek wil nie alkohol hê nie.

   I don't want alcohol.

   Usage

   Used to decline alcohol or request non-alcoholic options

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans uses double negation: "nie" appears both mid-sentence and at the end

6. Kan ek 'n wynlys sien?

   Can I see a wine list?

   Usage

   Used to request a wine list; South Africa is a renowned wine-producing country

   Grammar Note

   Modal "kan" is followed by the infinitive "sien" (to see) at the end

7. Twee koffies met melk, asseblief.

   Two coffees with milk, please.

   Usage

   Used to order multiple coffees with milk

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans plurals typically add -e or -s; "koffie" becomes "koffies"

8. Is die sap vars uitgedruk?

   Is the juice freshly squeezed?

   Usage

   Used to verify if juice is freshly squeezed

   Grammar Note

   "Uitgedruk" is the past participle of "uitdruk" (to squeeze out); combined with "vars" (fresh). Plain "gedruk" mostly means "printed".

9. Ek wil graag 'n tradisionele drank probeer.

   I would like to try a traditional drink.

   Usage

   Used to express interest in trying local traditional drinks like umqombothi

   Grammar Note

   "Wil graag ... probeer" expresses a polite wish; the infinitive "probeer" comes last

10. Die rekening, asseblief.

    The bill, please.

    Usage

    Used to request the bill at a bar or restaurant

    Grammar Note

    A simple noun phrase + "asseblief" makes a polite request, mirroring "The bill, please"

11. Bottelwater

    Bottled water

    Usage

    To ask for sealed bottled water when you want to avoid tap water

12. Warm water

    Hot water

    Usage

    To ask for hot water, e.g. for medicine, instant noodles, or baby formula

13. Ys

    Ice

    Usage

    To ask for ice

14. Sonder ys

    No ice

    Usage

    To ask for a drink without ice when you are unsure about the water

15. Melk

    Milk

    Usage

    To ask for milk, or to point out that you want it left out

16. Tee

    Tea

    Usage

    To order tea; the South African speciality is rooibos ("rooibostee")

17. Koffie

    Coffee

    Usage

    To order coffee

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