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 will come up constantly.
Essential Food Words
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| خبز | khubz | bread |
| أرز | ruzz | rice |
| لحم | lahm | meat |
| دجاج | dajāj | chicken |
| سمك | samak | fish |
| بيض | bayḍ | eggs |
| جبن | jubn | cheese |
| حليب | haliib | milk |
| زيت | zayt | oil |
| ملح | milḥ | salt |
| سكر | sukkar | sugar |
| فلفل | filfil | pepper |
| بصل | basal | onion |
| ثوم | thūm | garlic |
| طماطم | tamaatim | tomatoes |
| خيار | khiyār | cucumber |
| بطاطس | baṭāṭis | potatoes |
| تفاح | tuffāḥ | apples |
| موز | mawz | bananas |
| برتقال | burtuqāl | oranges |
Drinks
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ماء | maa’ | water |
| شاي | shaay | tea |
| قهوة | qahwa | coffee |
| عصير | 3aseer | juice |
| حليب | haliib | milk |
Meals
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| فطور | fuṭuur | breakfast |
| غداء | ghadaa’ | lunch |
| عشاء | 3ashaa’ | dinner |
| وجبة | wajba | meal |
| وجبة خفيفة | wajba khafeefa | snack |
Food in Sentences
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أريد خبزاً | urīdu khubzan | I want bread |
| هل تحب اللحم؟ | hal tuḥibbu l-lahm? | do you like meat? |
| الطعم لذيذ | a-ṭa3m ladheeth | the taste is delicious |
| هذا طعام حار | haadha ṭa3ām ḥār | this is hot food |
| أريد ماءً من فضلك | urīdu maa’ min faḍlak | I want water please |
| القهوة ساخنة | al-qahwa sākhina | the coffee is hot |
| العصير بارد | al-3aseer bārid | the juice is cold |
Restaurant Vocabulary
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| قائمة | qaa’ima | menu |
| طلب | ṭalab | order |
| فاتورة | fātūra | bill |
| مطعم | maṭ3am | restaurant |
| مطبخ | maṭbakh | kitchen |
Tip: In many Arab countries, bread (خبز) is the staple of every meal. You will often hear people say “khubz wa laban” (bread and yogurt) for a simple meal.
Want to practice ordering food in a conversation? Try the at-the-market lesson.
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'
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
0 / 8Arabic
English
← Select an Arabic word, then tap its meaning →
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