Food & Drinks

1. እንጀራ ይስጡኝ

   Injera yistugn

   Please bring me injera

   Usage

   Ordering injera, Ethiopia's national sourdough flatbread

   Grammar Note

   Injera is a fermented flatbread made from teff grain, eaten with various stews called "wat".

2. ዶሮ ወጥ አለ?

   Doro wet ale?

   Do you have doro wat?

   Usage

   Asking for doro wat, Ethiopia's signature spicy chicken stew

3. ጥብስ እፈልጋለሁ

   Tibs ifeligalehu

   I would like tibs

   Usage

   Ordering tibs, Ethiopian sauteed meat dish

4. ክትፎ እፈልጋለሁ

   Kitfo ifeligalehu

   I would like kitfo

   Usage

   Ordering kitfo, Ethiopian minced raw beef seasoned with spiced butter

5. የፆም ምግብ አለ?

   Ye-tsom migib ale?

   Do you have fasting (vegetarian) food?

   Usage

   Ethiopian Orthodox fasting food is entirely vegan — delicious and widely available

   Grammar Note

   Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast over 200 days a year, creating a rich vegan cuisine.

6. ጠጅ ትሰጣለህ?

   Tej tisetaleh?

   Do you serve tej (honey wine)?

   Usage

   Asking for tej, Ethiopia's traditional honey wine served in a flask-shaped glass

7. ቡና ሥነ ሥርዓት ማድረግ ትፈልጋለህ?

   Buna sine sirat madreg tifeligaleh?

   Would you like to do the coffee ceremony?

   Usage

   Requesting the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony — a cultural highlight

8. ሽሮ ወጥ ጥሩ ነው

   Shiro wet tiru new

   The shiro stew is good

   Usage

   Complimenting shiro wat, a chickpea powder stew popular as fasting food

9. ፍርፍር አለ?

   Firfir ale?

   Do you have firfir?

   Usage

   Ordering firfir, leftover injera torn and cooked with berbere spice — a popular breakfast

10. ዛሬ የፆም ምናሌ ምንድን ነው?

    Zare ye-tsom minale mindin new?

    What is today's fasting menu?

    Usage

    Used on fasting days (Wednesday/Friday) to ask about the vegan menu

11. ቅመም ነው?

    Qemem new?

    Is it spicy?

    Usage

    Ethiopian food uses berbere spice which can be very spicy — ask before ordering

12. ጥሬ

    tire

    Raw / uncooked

    Usage

    Dishes like kitfo are served raw, so this is how you check

13. ቅመም ያለው

    kimem yalew

    Spicy

    Usage

    Chili heat, for stating what you can handle

14. ሩዝ

    ruz

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    The same word covers raw and cooked rice; in an eatery it means the cooked dish

15. ዳቦ

    dabo

    Bread

    Usage

    For asking for something other than injera

16. ፓስታ

    pasta

    Pasta / noodles

    Usage

    The most common noodle dish in Ethiopian eateries

17. ሾርባ

    shorba

    Soup

    Usage

    Easy to order when you are not feeling well

18. እርጎ

    ergo

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Often ordered to cool down after spicy food

19. አትክልት

    atkilt

    Vegetables

    Usage

    Also useful when asking about fasting-day dishes

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