Food & Drinks

1. Ин чӣ аст?

   In chi ast?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Used to ask about a dish or menu item

   Grammar Note

   Basic question using "chi" (what). Tajik is an Iranian language; "chi" is the same as Persian "che". SOV order with question word near the end.

2. Як порча ош биёред, лутфан

   Yak por-cha osh bi-yo-red, lut-fan

   One serving of plov, please

   Usage

   Ordering osh (plov/pilaf), the national dish of Tajikistan made with rice, lamb, carrots, and onions

   Grammar Note

   "Osh" means both "food in general" and specifically plov (rice-and-lamb pilaf). "Lutfan" comes from Persian "lotfan" (kindly/please).

3. Нон биёред

   Non bi-yo-red

   Bring bread, please

   Usage

   Tajik bread is round flatbread called non or tafdon, always served with meals

   Grammar Note

   "Non" (bread) is shared across many Central/South Asian languages. "Biyored" is the polite imperative of "ovardan" (to bring).

4. Хӯрок хеле хуш мазза буд

   Khu-rok khe-le khush maz-za bud

   The food was very delicious

   Usage

   Compliment to the cook or host after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Khush" (good) + "mazza" (taste) = delicious. Identical to Persian "khosh maze". Tajik adjectives precede nouns, same as Persian.

5. Ҳисобро биёред

   Hi-sob-ro bi-yo-red

   Bring the bill, please

   Usage

   Asking for the check at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Ro" is the Tajik/Persian object marker (accusative), same as Persian "ra". It follows specific/definite objects — a key feature of Iranian languages.

6. Ман гӯшт намехӯрам

   Man gusht na-me-khu-ram

   I don't eat meat

   Usage

   Communicating dietary restrictions (vegetarian or religious)

   Grammar Note

   "Na" (neg.) + "me" (present tense prefix) + "khoram" (I eat). The "me-" prefix marks present tense in Tajik and Persian alike.

7. Чой биёред, лутфан

   Choy bi-yo-red, lut-fan

   Please bring tea

   Usage

   Tea is central to Tajik culture. Green tea (choi sabz) and black tea (choi siyoh) are both popular

   Grammar Note

   "Choy" (tea) entered Central Asian languages from Chinese "cha" via the Silk Road. Tajik teahouses (choyhona) are important social spaces.

8. Манту дорад?

   Man-tu do-rad?

   Do you have manti (steamed dumplings)?

   Usage

   Asking for manti, popular steamed dumplings filled with meat and onions

   Grammar Note

   "Dorad" is third-person singular of "dashtan" (to have). "~ dorad?" = "do you have ~?". Manti have Mongolian/Turkic origins, popular across Central Asia.

9. Оби нӯшокӣ биёред

   O-bi nu-sho-ki bi-yo-red

   Please bring drinking water

   Usage

   Tap water is generally not safe to drink; ask for bottled mineral water

   Grammar Note

   "Ob" (water) is the same as Persian "ab". "Nushoki" derives from "nushidan" (to drink) and means "drinkable/beverage".

10. Шӯрбо гирам

    Shur-bo gi-ram

    I'll have the soup

    Usage

    Tajik shurbo is a hearty lamb and vegetable soup, especially popular in winter

    Grammar Note

    "Shur" (salty) + "bo" (water) = salty broth is the etymology. "Giram" is first-person present of "giriftan" (to take), same as Persian "migiram".

11. Ин хеле тунд аст

    In khe-le tund ast

    This is very spicy

    Grammar Note

    "Tund" means spicy, strong, or fast — a versatile adjective. Same as Persian "tond". "Khele" is an intensifying adverb.

12. Ба саломатии шумо!

    Ba sa-lo-ma-ti-i shu-mo!

    To your health! (Cheers!)

    Usage

    Toast said when drinking together at meals

    Grammar Note

    "Salomati" (health) shares roots with "salom" (hello), both from Arabic "salama". Tajikistan is Muslim but has a wine and beer culture.

13. Биринҷ

    Bi-rinj

    Rice

    Usage

    The grain itself; the classic cooked rice dish is "osh" (plov), covered separately

14. Нон

    Non

    Bread (flatbread)

    Usage

    The centre of every Tajik table; the round flatbread. Treating it carelessly is a serious offence

15. Угро

    Ug-ro

    Noodles

    Usage

    The hand-cut noodles themselves; the stir-fried noodle dish is called "laghmon"

16. Тунд

    Tund

    Spicy (hot with chilli)

    Usage

    Tajik "tund" also means fast or strong; shown while discussing food it reads as chilli heat

17. Хом

    Khom

    Raw (not cooked)

    Usage

    For checking whether something is cooked through; with fruit it also means unripe

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