Food & Drinks

1. मेनू दाखवा

   Me-nu daakh-vaa

   Please show me the menu

   Usage

   First phrase to use when entering a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Marathi polite imperatives often add "-vaa" to the verb root. "Daakhav" is the casual form.

2. बिल आणा

   Bill aa-naa

   Please bring the bill

   Usage

   Used when you are ready to pay after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Aanane" means "to bring". The polite imperative form is "aanaa".

3. हे काय आहे?

   He kaay aa-he?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Used to ask about a dish or ingredient

   Grammar Note

   Marathi demonstrative "he" is neuter. "Haa" is masculine, "hi" is feminine.

4. मला शाकाहारी जेवण हवे आहे

   Ma-laa shaak-aa-haa-ri je-van ha-ve aa-he

   I would like vegetarian food

   Usage

   Important phrase as vegetarianism is very common in Maharashtra

   Grammar Note

   In Marathi, "I want X" uses the dative structure "malaa X have aahe" (to me X is needed).

5. हे खूप चविष्ट आहे

   He khup cha-vishth aa-he

   This is very delicious

   Usage

   Expression to praise food, much appreciated by the cook or host

   Grammar Note

   "Chav" means taste in Marathi; "chavishtha" is the adjective form meaning delicious.

6. पाणी आणा

   Paa-ni aa-naa

   Please bring water

   Usage

   Ordering water at a restaurant. Bottled water is recommended in India

   Grammar Note

   Hindi writes "पानी" with the dental nasal न; Marathi writes "पाणी" with the retroflex nasal ण.

7. तिखट नको

   Ti-khat na-ko

   Not spicy please

   Usage

   Important phrase as Maharashtrian cuisine tends to be quite spicy

   Grammar Note

   "Nako" is Marathi-specific meaning "I don't want" or "please don't". More volitional than "naahi".

8. आणखी एक द्या

   Aa-na-khi ek dyaa

   Please give me one more

   Usage

   Used to ask for another serving of food or drink

   Grammar Note

   "Dyaa" is the polite imperative of "dene" (to give). "Dy" is an example of a conjunct consonant in Marathi.

9. मला ऍलर्जी आहे

   Ma-laa ae-lar-ji aa-he

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Important phrase for communicating food allergies

   Grammar Note

   Marathi uses many English loanwords. "ऍ" is a special Devanagari character representing the English "ae" sound.

10. जेवण खूप छान होतं

    Je-van khup chhaan ho-tan

    The meal was very wonderful

    Usage

    Expression used after a meal to compliment the food

    Grammar Note

    "Chhaan" is a very common positive word in Marathi. "Hotan" is the neuter past form of "hone" (to be).

11. भात

    bhat

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Refers to cooked rice; uncooked rice is a different word, "tandul"

12. ब्रेड

    bred

    Bread

    Usage

    Loaf-style bread; the small round rolls are called "pav" instead

13. नूडल्स

    nudals

    Noodles

    Usage

    Word for noodles; in India stir-fried "Hakka noodles" is the common form

14. तिखट

    tikhat

    Spicy (chilli hot)

    Usage

    Refers to chilli heat, not temperature

15. गोड

    god

    Sweet

    Usage

    The taste word for sweet

16. कच्चं

    kacchan

    Raw / uncooked

    Usage

    Word for checking that something is not cooked; with fruit it can also mean "unripe"

17. मीठ

    mith

    Salt

    Usage

    Word for asking for salt or checking salt content

18. साखर

    sakhar

    Sugar

    Usage

    Word for asking for sugar or checking sugar content

19. लोणी

    loni

    Butter

    Usage

    The native Marathi word; packaged salted butter is often called "butter"

20. चीज

    chij

    Cheese

    Usage

    Refers to Western-style cheese; India's fresh cheese "paneer" is a different thing

21. मध

    madh

    Honey

    Usage

    Word for asking about or ordering honey

22. टोफू

    tophu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Not part of traditional cooking and found mainly in city shops; "paneer" is the local substitute if you can eat dairy

23. सूप

    sup

    Soup

    Usage

    Word for soup on a menu

24. फळ

    phal

    Fruit

    Usage

    General word for fruit; the plural is "phale"

25. दही

    dahi

    Yoghurt / curd

    Usage

    The unsweetened curd served with every Indian thali; useful for cutting chilli heat

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