Food & Drinks

1. Një tavolinë për dy, ju lutem

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Used when requesting a table at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "ju lutem" is a polite "please" added at the end. "tavolinë" is the indefinite form

2. Menunë, ju lutem

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Used to request the menu after being seated

   Grammar Note

   "menunë" is the definite accusative of "menu". Albanian definite articles are suffixed

3. Çfarë rekomandoni?

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Asking the waiter for food recommendations

   Grammar Note

   "rekomandoni" is the formal second-person form. The word is borrowed from Italian/French

4. Jam vegjetarian

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   Used to explain dietary restrictions

   Grammar Note

   Feminine form: "vegjetariane". "Jam" is the first-person singular of the verb "to be"

5. Llogarinë, ju lutem

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Requesting the check at the end of a meal

   Grammar Note

   "llogarinë" is the definite accusative of "llogari". "faturën" is an alternative

6. Ky është shumë i shijshëm

   This is very delicious

   Usage

   Used to compliment the food

   Grammar Note

   "i shijshëm" is the masculine adjective form. For feminine nouns: "e shijshme"

7. Një ujë mineral, ju lutem

   One mineral water, please

   Usage

   Ordering water at a restaurant or café

   Grammar Note

   Add "me gaz" (sparkling) or "pa gaz" (still) to specify water type

8. A ka mish në këtë gjellë?

   Does this dish contain meat?

   Usage

   Checking ingredients for dietary restrictions

   Grammar Note

   "A ka" forms a yes/no question meaning "is there". "A" is a question particle

9. Jam alergjik ndaj arrorëve

   I am allergic to nuts

   Usage

   Important phrase for communicating food allergies. If not understood, enumerate: "arra, bajame, lajthi" (walnut, almond, hazelnut)

   Grammar Note

   Feminine: "alergjike". The old wording "arrave" (plural dative of arra) means walnuts only and must not be used. The collective is "arrorët" (sg. arror), which covers bajame (almond), lajthi (hazelnut) and gështenja (chestnut)

10. Ku është një restorant i mirë?

    Where is a good restaurant?

    Usage

    Asking locals or hotel staff for restaurant recommendations

    Grammar Note

    "i mirë" is the attributive adjective for masculine nouns in the indefinite form

11. oriz i zier

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    "oriz" alone also covers raw rice, so "i zier" (boiled) is added

12. bukë

    Bread

    Usage

    A basic word for ordering or shopping; definite form "buka"

13. makarona

    Pasta / Noodles

    Usage

    In Albania this covers pasta generally; Asian-style noodles are also called "nudlla"

14. djegës

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Chilli heat only; hot in temperature is the separate word "i nxehtë"

15. i ëmbël

    Sweet

    Usage

    Sweet in taste; with feminine nouns it becomes "e ëmbël"

16. i papjekur

    Raw / Uncooked

    Usage

    To flag undercooked food; "cook it well" is "Të jetë i pjekur mirë"

17. supë

    Soup

    Usage

    Point to it on a menu; definite form "supa"

18. djathë

    Cheese

    Usage

    Also useful when avoiding dairy; local white cheese is "djathë i bardhë"

19. kos

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    A common side dish in Balkan food; the salted drink version is "dhallë"

20. mjaltë

    Honey

    Usage

    Point to it at a market or at breakfast; definite form "mjalti"

21. fruta

    Fruit

    Usage

    Plural form for fruit in general; the singular is "frutë"

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