Café & Drinks

1. چاي ئىچەيلى

   Chay icheyli

   Let's drink tea

   Usage

   Tea hospitality is central to Uyghur culture. Often heard as an invitation at someone's home

   Grammar Note

   "-ئەيلى" is the cohortative suffix "let's." "چاي" (tea) shares origins with Japanese cha and Chinese chá

2. كۆك چاي بارمۇ؟

   Kök chay barmu?

   Do you have green tea?

   Usage

   Used at Uyghur restaurants or teahouses to order green tea. Common in desert regions

   Grammar Note

   "كۆك" is a polysemous color word meaning "blue/green." "بار" is "there is," "-مۇ" is the question suffix

3. ئۆرۈكتىن ياسالغان شىرە بارمۇ؟

   Örüktün yasalghanshire barmu?

   Do you have apricot juice?

   Usage

   Xinjiang is famous for apricots. Used at local markets or restaurants to order fresh juice

   Grammar Note

   "-تىن ياسالغان" is a passive participle phrase "made from." "ئۆرۈك" shares roots with Turkish "erik"

4. ئالتۇن مەيىز شەربىتى

   Altun meyiz sherbiti

   Golden raisin sherbet drink

   Usage

   Used to order the traditional sweet drink made from Turpan's famous golden raisins

   Grammar Note

   "شەربەت" is Persian-origin for "sweet drink." Turpan in Xinjiang is world-renowned for grapes and raisins

5. سۇيۇق ئايران بارمۇ؟

   Suyuq ayran barmu?

   Do you have ayran (yogurt drink)?

   Usage

   Used to order ayran, the traditional Uyghur fermented milk drink. Especially popular in hot summer

   Grammar Note

   "ئايران" is a common Turkic word for the yogurt drink. Uyghur shares much vocabulary with Turkish

6. ئىسسىق ياكى سوغۇق؟

   Issiq yaki soghüq?

   Hot or cold?

   Usage

   Used to confirm drink temperature preference. Commonly asked when ordering at restaurants

   Grammar Note

   "ياكى" is the disjunctive "or/either." "ئىسسىق" and "سوغۇق" are etymologically related to Turkish "sıcak/soğuk"

7. بىر پىيالە قەھۋە ئالسام بولامدۇ؟

   Bir piyale qehwe alsam bolamdu?

   May I have a cup of coffee?

   Usage

   Used to order coffee at a café or restaurant. Café culture is growing in Ürümqi and other cities

   Grammar Note

   "ئالسام بولامدۇ" is the polite request "may I get/have." A common way to order politely

8. شام يىيىش ئالدى مىيۋە شىرىسى

   Sham yiyish aldi méywe shirisi

   Fresh fruit juice before dinner

   Usage

   Used at Uyghur restaurants to order fresh fruit juice before dinner

   Grammar Note

   "ئالدى" is a postpositional noun "before." "مىيۋە شىرىسى" is the genitive compound "fruit's juice"

9. ئۇ ئىچىملىك ئادەتتە قايسى ۋاقىتلاردا ئىچىلىدۇ؟

   U ichimlik adette qaysi waqitlarda ichilidu?

   In what occasions is that drink usually consumed?

   Usage

   Used to ask about unfamiliar drinks — ask a guide or local when and how a drink is typically consumed

   Grammar Note

   "ئادەتتە" is "habit" + locative "-دە" = "as a custom/usually." "-لىك" is a relational suffix "for/of"

10. توشقۇر!

    Toshqur!

    Cheers! (Uyghur toast)

    Usage

    Used as a toast at Uyghur feasts or social gatherings when raising a drink

    Grammar Note

    "توشقۇر" is a celebratory toast. Uyghurs often toast with tea or juice as alternatives to alcohol

11. مۇزسىز

    Muzsiz

    No ice

    Usage

    Refuses ice when ordering a drink; "muz" (ice) + "-siz" (without)

12. مىنېرال سۇ

    Minéral su

    Bottled mineral water

    Usage

    Tap water is not drunk in Xinjiang; point at this to buy water in a bottle

13. ئىسسىق سۇ

    Issiq su

    Hot water

    Usage

    For asking for hot water for instant noodles or powdered medicine; dispensers are standard

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